Dried Corals?

[SkinnyArtist]

I'm keeping a FOWLR nano, but wanted to add a little décor.

Since I'm running the tank on actinic-only lighting, I obviously can't keep any corals, save some hard to keep non-photosynthetic ones. Instead, I thought of putting in some dry corals. They're attractive, and I think the bleached white color most of them sport would like rather nice under the actinic light.

Question is, should I order this stuff online from various pet suppliers that offer it, or do you think if I could find it at one of my local craft stores that they'd be safe and not treated with chemicals?

[decent37]

you could add some mushrooms if you wanted I would say. I think that dead corals are sad looking in fish tanks

[Agu]

X2 on dried corals looking sad in a fish tank. Not only that, but by buying them you're supporting the collection of corals to kill them as decorations.

Now off my soapbox.

Get some more live rock and attempt to create a natural looking biotope. Create some caves and hiding places and not only will it look more natural, but your fish will be more comfortable in a natural environment.

BTW, I'm not a fish doc but I question if it's healthy for your fish to run an actinic only lighting tank. Unless they're deepwater species a near normal light cycle would be a better alternative.

jmo,

[SkinnyArtist]

Actinic only is safe; I made sure to get multiple opinions from various sources, including asking in another thread here on RC.

As far as I'm aware, too, most mushrooms do require moderate lighting. But I'm looking for a more structural object than a mushroom.

I have about 1.5 pounds of liverock per gallon. Too much more, as I understand it, isn't really good for the system... so the rockwork is where I like it.

Anyway. I'm not opposed to using artificial corals, I just haven't found anything that I really like the look of. It all -looks- very artificial.

If anyone has any suggestions for good-looking artificial corals, let me know.