Soft Corals???

[StPatrick89]

Just had a conversation with someone in a fish store and found out that I can actually keep soft corals because they don’t need “special lighting”, and they don’t need special water and all the different additives that keep me at bay from going to a “reef tank.” Is anyone else familiar or have any recommendations for corals that can survive easily in a FOWLR tank without the added additives and stress that goes along with keeping corals

 

[PeterB113]

Just had a conversation with someone in a fish store and found out that I can actually keep soft corals because they don’t need “special lighting”, and they don’t need special water and all the different additives that keep me at bay from going to a “reef tank.” Is anyone else familiar or have any recommendations for corals that can survive easily in a FOWLR tank without the added additives and stress that goes along with keeping corals

My soft coral tank is a 5g fluval. Whole setup is 100$ so they light is really cheap but doing the job. Ill probably end up changing the light eventually as things start to really grow out. You dont need a special light buy you do need a sufficent light.

 

[StPatrick89]

My soft coral tank is a 5g fluval. Whole setup is 100$ so they light is really cheap but doing the job. Ill probably end up changing the light eventually as things start to really grow out. You dont need a special light buy you do need a sufficent light.

What’s the name of some of yours? I like the ones that like to blow in the flow of the tank

 

[fish farmer]

You could try discoma mushrooms and hardier palys. I had some of those in a FOWLR for a while under low lighting.

Several years ago my reef was pretty much softy dominant when I let water changes slide for a bit, wasn't dosing anything, just feeding the tank. I did however have lots of GHA, the softies I had were colt, nepthia, green and red discoma mushrooms and brown palys. At the time I was using power compacts over a 29 gallon tank.

 

[zoaprince]

You could try discoma mushrooms and hardier palys. I had some of those in a FOWLR for a while under low lighting.

Several years ago my reef was pretty much softy dominant when I let water changes slide for a bit, wasn't dosing anything, just feeding the tank. I did however have lots of GHA, the softies I had were colt, nepthia, green and red discoma mushrooms and brown palys. At the time I was using power compacts over a 29 gallon tank.

agreed on Palys. Get some green palys, brown palys, or captain jerks. All are tanks and will survive a nuclear strike.

just keep in mind that palys can have toxic palytoxins that can make you really sick or even kill you. Always wear gloves when touching them, wear a facemask, and glasses/goggles. Be careful and you'll be fine.

 

[N3mo]

Soft corals can be kept under very basic lighting, they do however open up much bigger when given decent lighting.

Things like gsp, Kenya trees, finger leathers, mushrooms will do well without any dosing etc, they will feed of the nutrients and lighting.

 

[Devaji]

all depends on the fish you have in your FOWLR some will still eat on softies or at least nip at them so they will not open then they die. what fish you do have? what size on tank?

some soft corals are temperamental like leathers they will not open for days or weeks at a time. I think LPS are often tinmes just as easy BUT you do need a but more par.

do you have any idea what your par is?
also note that some softies will spread quite fast. dont get me wrong I think softies are underrates and plan on to have alot in my new big build.

 

[Devaji]

and for inspiration one of my all time favorite reef tanks MikeC softie tank:

 

[StPatrick89]

all depends on the fish you have in your FOWLR some will still eat on softies or at least nip at them so they will not open then they die. what fish you do have? what size on tank?

some soft corals are temperamental like leathers they will not open for days or weeks at a time. I think LPS are often tinmes just as easy BUT you do need a but more par.

do you have any idea what your par is?
also note that some softies will spread quite fast. dont get me wrong I think softies are underrates and plan on to have alot in my new big build.

I have a 75G
2 clowns
Royal gramma
Coral beauty
Dory
Sailfin tang

 

[Devaji]

I have a 75G
2 clowns
Royal gramma
Coral beauty
Dory
Sailfin tang

all those will be fine with softies
the CB might "nip" tat them but should not damage the coral if it healthy

 

[Devaji]

what lighting to you have? do you know the PAR?

 

[StPatrick89]

what lighting to you have? do you know the PAR?

Fluval Aquasky 48-60 Bluetooth LeD
Not sure of PAR. I assume it’s parameters?
Not sure off hand

 

[PeterB113]

What’s the name of some of yours? I like the ones that like to blow in the flow of the tank

Right now i only have xenia zoas, GSP and a bubble tip anenome.

 

[StPatrick89]

Right now i only have xenia zoas, GSP and a bubble tip anenome.

Got a pic?

 

[EricR]

Got a pic?

Thanks for starting this thread as I'm in the same boat as you, but hadn't even started researching options yet. Will be watching this...

For the record, I have:
-- 4 month old 37 gallon FOWLR with just 2 HOB power filters
-- Lighting is whatever cheapie white LEDs came with the aquarium kit
-- No idea about PAR
-- 1 small clown, 1 bicolor blenny, 1 chocolate chip starfish, 1 pink urchin, 2 small hermit crabs, 4 margarita snails, and the various other unexpected creatures from LR

*by "same boat" I meant, didn't want to deal with effort until (2 days ago) someone in fish store said, "you could do soft corals." (My setup is obviously not quite in the same league as yours)

 

[EricR]

Didn't notice when I replied in Aug that this thread had been stagnate since Apr (((thought it was same month))),,, but in case anyone sees this:

Lighting for adding a couple of beginner soft corals (Xenia, GSP) to FOWLR tank???

I have ONLY white light LED strips (right above the water on the underside of the plastic lid) that came with my cheapie 37 gallon aquarium kit.

I assume this will not be sufficient and I'd have to at least add something with a fuller spectrum, correct? (I'd like to stick with LEDs for low heat and efficiency).

I also assume I'd need to get rid of the plastic lid (which is keeping dust and animal hair out and slowing evaporation) to mount the new lights higher up off the water surface. (I guess then I'd just need to make some kind of mesh to keep fish in and other stuff out).

Thoughts/comments/suggestions?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Just had a conversation with someone in a fish store and found out that I can actually keep soft corals because they don’t need “special lighting”, and they don’t need special water and all the different additives that keep me at bay from going to a “reef tank.” Is anyone else familiar or have any recommendations for corals that can survive easily in a FOWLR tank without the added additives and stress that goes along with keeping corals

Soft corals still need light and the so called additives are actually elements and yes soft corals do need certain elements to be in the water to grow and thrive.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I think it should be emphasized that "low/moderate" light levels does not mean "broken or subpar lighting" and that it's a mistake to think that "any" light source will do for them. Yes, I have xenias growing under cheap Nicrew LEDs that I got off of Amazon and put on my IM40...but they're just not doing as well as the ones in my Evo XII or in my tank with Primes. Proper spectrum is important for all corals. Even the softies.

FWIW, I have some mushrooms at the top of my Evo. They're lovely, and in high light and flow, so it's a mistake to think that all mushrooms need a quiet, dark space in which to thrive. I know that people are always in a rush to upgrade the Evo's stock lighting, but I've found that it's pretty good for keeping a mixed reef tank.