Help with low light corals!

[Zach W]

I am looking for some recommendations on lower light corals for a spot in my tank. For reference I have an IM fusion 20 paired with a NanoBox Duo. The area is the back left of the tank and it gets some light but based on the shape of the rock and scape it’s not very intense I don’t think. I don’t have a par meter so I can’t get an exact reading. Flow is moderate to low depending on exact placement. Here are some pictures (sorry for the poor quality). How would you fill this area? 

 

Front of Rock (not the issue, just for context)

 

Side and back 

 

 

 

[luckie1966]

I would go with a Acan frag, but you need to feed them...Just from a picture. They are a pretty easy to keep lps Coral.

[sadie]

I had a red chili coral I really liked. It lived in my cave and did well.

 

[banasophia]

Looks like a nice sized area. I’d consider leaving it open for now while you fill in the other areas... you may want to do some nice looking macro algae, gorgonian, or maybe a Monti cap in that area in the future... and possibly a rubble pile if you’re trying to support pods. I could also envision doing a toadstool back there, depending on size/shape. So many options!

[Clown79]

Any lps will work there as they need low to moderate light.

 

You could do a blasto, Lobo, chalice, a torch would look good there and give movement to the area

[DSFIRSTSLTWATER]

Great setup so far I'll be following along. I have a blasto down low and it looks really nice.

[FollyFish]

You could do some mushroom or a NPS like Dendros but you would have to feed the NPS. 

[Zach W]

On 6/25/2018 at 10:55 PM, sadie said:

I had a red chili coral I really liked. It lived in my cave and did well.

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, FollyFish said:

You could do some mushroom or a NPS like Dendros but you would have to feed the NPS. 

That chili coral looks awesome! I like the NPS corals but right now I dont think I would be able to support their needs. I travel a good amount of time and would struggle keeping the well fed enough I feel

On 6/25/2018 at 11:17 PM, banasophia said:

Looks like a nice sized area. I’d consider leaving it open for now while you fill in the other areas... you may want to do some nice looking macro algae, gorgonian, or maybe a Monti cap in that area in the future... and possibly a rubble pile if you’re trying to support pods. I could also envision doing a toadstool back there, depending on size/shape. So many options!

The macro algae idea is intriguing, and I would love a gorgonian but dont know too much about them and what they need. Would definitely need to do some research on them.

[Zach W]

On 6/26/2018 at 1:55 AM, Clown79 said:

Any lps will work there as they need low to moderate light.

 

You could do a blasto, Lobo, chalice, a torch would look good there and give movement to the area

I have a blasto on the other side of the tank and like it alot! Would a scoly work in that area as well or not so much? And I have had my eye on some golden torches but have heard they require more light then most other torches. Is this true? 

23 hours ago, DSFIRSTSLTWATER said:

Great setup so far I'll be following along. I have a blasto down low and it looks really nice.

Thanks! I appreciate that. I do have a build thread that you should check out 😊

[Clown79]

I've not had a scoly in 10yrs. Mine was out in the open in full light under t5's.

 

My experience with euphyllia- none have done well under high light or higher flows.

 

I have a purple tip gold euphyllia and it retracts in high light.

 

 

Gold torch may be different.

 

[A Little Blue]

Sponges are good option if your tank is mature enough. Also look up deep(er) ocean corals. Those are still photosynthetic but don’t require a lot of light to thrive. 

[DSFIRSTSLTWATER]

2 hours ago, Zach W said:

Thanks! I appreciate that. I do have a build thread that you should check out 😊

Yeah I'll see if I can find it would love to see it 

[Floundering_Around]

Just got a yellow finger gorgonian frag. I feed my tank reef chili and just recently started using benepets. Gorgonian took a few days to settle in but is starting to open up more and more

[Ebn]

This NPS gorgonian would do well if you broadcast feed your tank. You don't have to target feed this one at all. I've had this one for a year and never had to worry about squirting food in its direction.

 

 

Blasto would work also. I have one in complete shade and it actually looks better than when it was in light. 

[Zach W]

12 hours ago, Ebn said:

This NPS gorgonian would do well if you broadcast feed your tank. You don't have to target feed this one at all. I've had this one for a year and never had to worry about squirting food in its direction.

 

 

Blasto would work also. I have one in complete shade and it actually looks better than when it was in light. 

That looks awesome!! Does your tank have to be established for them to thrive? My tank has been up and running for about 5months and is pretty stable but not too long 

[Ebn]

Not really, as long as you feed your fish and there's a bit of suspended food in the water column every once in awhile. This one went into my 47G tank which was less than a year old and has been in my 87G since it was set up (saw water in mid April of this year).