| When adding coral to your aquarium, it is | | | | and blue, which is why aquarium lights often |
| crucial to remember that they require more | | | | will exude a purple hue, as most of them |
| light than most other life-forms you might | | | | provide both colors as an industry standard. |
| want to add specifically because they feed on | | | | |
| fatty and amino acids created through | | | | While it is essential to have the minimum |
| photosynthesis by an algae living in | | | | amount of light in order to meet the |
| symbiosis with them called the Zooxanthellae. | | | | xooxanthellae's minimum requires for |
| Without light, therefore, zooxanthellae | | | | photosynthesis to work, it is also important |
| cannot produce food and your coral will | | | | to note that it has an upper limit tolerance |
| perish. | | | | as well. Your lights must therefore be in the |
| | | | middle or bad things will happen to both the |
| There are some species of coral that can | | | | zooxanthellae, and as a byproduct, the coral. |
| survive with the normal amount of lighting, | | | | |
| so for the beginner, you may want to stick to | | | | While not an exact science as how much or how |
| these species. Specifically, Mushroom Coral | | | | little light depends on how many |
| and Coral Polyps can survive with normal | | | | xooxanthellae reside in the coral, and that |
| lighting techniques. | | | | can be anywhere from thousands to millions, |
| | | | but a good place to start would be to ensure |
| Conversely, species such as SPS (Small Polyp | | | | that your intensity minimum is 3000-lux and |
| Stony Coral) that include Acoropora, | | | | that you don't go above 120,000-lux. While |
| Montipora, Porites, Brain Coral, Bubble | | | | this may seem to be a quite wide and open |
| Coral, Elegance Coral, Cup Coral, Torch | | | | range, you will have to make determinations |
| Coral, and Trumpet Coral require far greater | | | | base on the behavior of your coral. |
| intensity with lighting, making them a | | | | |
| substantially greater challenge for the | | | | Good quality types of lamps to use would |
| aquarium hobbyist, especially considering | | | | include florescent, and you should use six |
| more light usually means more harmful algae | | | | lamps, or if your aquarium is not wide enough |
| will grow in the tank. | | | | for that, then it is recommended that you |
| | | | instead utilize high output lamps, which are |
| The best lighting technique to keep your | | | | more expensive, but necessary. You should |
| coral safe is the light emitting diode (LED) | | | | replace these bulbs every six months. Power |
| technology, which has begun to make the | | | | compact florescent lamps, which are U-shaped, |
| former standards: gas and filament based | | | | are an even better option, and you will only |
| lighting systems obsolete. Though initially | | | | need four. |
| more expensive then gas and filament systems, | | | | |
| over time they save money because they use | | | | Coral is an excellent addition to any |
| less power and have a longer lifespan, | | | | aquarium, and there are many fish that enjoy |
| meaning less replacement costs and hassle. | | | | coral as a food source. Regardless if you |
| | | | have added coral to your aquarium to survive |
| It is important to note that the | | | | or as sustenance for your fish, you have to |
| zooxanthellae's photosynthesis process | | | | have the right lighting or it won't survive. |
| require light of two different colors: red | | | | |