Newbie wanting to keep LPS :)

[Bonta]

Hey RC ! I want to shift from zoas and softies to keep LPS too. What kind of lighting do they need ? Alot of flow ? Do they tolerate high nitrates ? Is a Calcium Reactor needed ? Do I need to target feed them ?

My lighting right now are 20k and 36 watt Actinic Blues. Should I switch my bulbs ?

I would like to keep a variety , plate corals, acans, and brains.

Thanks

[Nemo Niblets]

You don't need to target feed most, you don't need a calcium reactor, and they will tolerate nitrates to an extent. I would say 20 ppm nitrates is tolerable, so they can withstand a small spike. And what type of bulbs are you using?

[Bonta]

As in brand ?
Odyssea.

[amonchak]

What type of lights (MH, t5, PC??) and wattage would help.

I run 4 X 54W t5 on my 55 gallon and have acans in the sand and an array of other LPS (candy, hammer, frogspawn) at differing levels in the tank, all growing and thriving.

I would say if you only have 36 watts you should to look at upgrading before your get any other corals but from your info I would guess you have a 20K MH and supplemental 36 w actinics, which IMO would be fine for LPS.

HTH

[Bonta]

Yup :) Alright thanks .

[mike_dani]

as I am finding out if and when you go to MH go slow and shade everything. I now have many clear duncans frogspawn and a huge acro colony.....

Unfortunately I didn't ask any questions until it was to late

[IJayC1]

i hve a 55 with 4 t5s with duncans, 5 diff brain corals, candy canes, chalices, softies, ect. No calc reactor here