How long can corals go without light??

[sally1]

The CSL power compact hood on my ten gallon reef tank just went out and I need to send it to Custom Sea Life for repair. Who knows how long that will take. How long can corals go without the optimal lighting conditions?? Right now I have a NO small light on it but it is no comparison to the PC bulbs I have had on it. I have about 12 different types of soft corals in this small tank.

 

[Anonymous]

I had that problem a couple weeks ago - they went a week before I found a ballast I could borrow. By the end of the week the xenia was kind of wrinkled and the elegance has some white tips. Everyone seems back to normal now except the elegance - I'm keeping my fingers crossed - it looks ok, but not as good as it did.

I've got a bubble, a plate, a closed brain, xenia, a leather, frogspawn, elegance and something that I haven't been able to ID yet - hard and branch like. I also have a curly cue anemone.

 

[Rick O]

I've got some lights you can borrow.