Deep Water Acros - how low can they go???

[jshorter]

Can anyone tell me how low of light a "Deep Water Acropora" can take? I have heard some conflicting stories, and wanted to ask someone with first-hand experience.

I have a 29 tank that is lit with 4 - 75 watt VHOs (2 - 50/50 and 2 - Super Actinic). Right now I have, as far as SPS's, a Hydnophora, Blue Tip Acro, Green Staghorn Acro, Tricolor Acro, (orange, purple, & green) Montipora digitata, Montipora capricornis, & Montipora stellata.....all of which have AWESOME colors (even better now than when I got them), and are growing like weeds!

I want to put something in the lower right corner of the tank, about 1/3 of the way in from the right side, and 1/3 of the way to the back from the front, and about 14 inches from the light. The only limiting factor is light intensity. Any ideas as to if a "deep water" Acro would do well here, or should I try something else?

I really like the looks of some of the corals for sale at Blowfish Aquatics. Like this one:

http://www.blowfishaquatics.com/Mer...Code=BA&Product_Code=SPS087&Category_Code=SPS

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch in advance!!!

Jason

 

[Len]

Jason,

"deepwater" Acropora can fare well even under standard fluroscents (the Nice Aquarium in France has Acros under NO bulbs) but here's the big problem: If the coral isn't deriving its energy from photosynthesis, it has to gather it from captured foods. In captivity, we simply can't provide these corals the foods required to sustain them without sunlight. FWIW, the Nice Aquarium is a semi-open system meaning it changes huge amounts of water on a daily basis with natural seawater. We don't have that luxury

Basically, what I'm saying is most SPS still need a reasonable amount of light to live, even deepwater specimens. The good news is 4 x 75W over a 29 gallon is plenty of light for them.