Aquarium Lights for Coral Growth
If you are starting or maintaining a reef aquarium with coral, one of the most crucial components of your system is the lighting. The three categories of coral have different lighting needs: stony (coral with skeleton) and SPS (short polyped stony) corals require more light, while soft (without skeleton) corals require less intense light. All types of coral require photosynthesis in order to survive and grow, whether in the ocean or in your own home aquarium. As with plants that use sunlight to create chlorophyll, marine life such as coral converts light into nourishment through the byproducts of zooxanthellae algae, with which the coral lives in symbiosis.
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Lighting Frequency
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Your aquarium lighting can affect the coloration and shading of your coral. Changing the frequency (the change in spectral output) of the light that your aquarium's animals receive, and to which they have become accustomed, can damage your coral if done unwisely. A reef tank should be lit as strongly as possible relative to the space available. Learn about the best frequency for the coral you own, and use caution whenever adjusting the aquarium's light source.
Adjusting Lights
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When you do adjust the lighting according to your coral's needs, you will notice that at first they close up their polyps, shrink back or otherwise demonstrate a self-protective reaction to the change. But within a few days or even less time, you'll notice the color of the coral changing. This change in color actually comes from the zooxanthellae. The algae are adapting to the change in ultraviolet light by changing how much light they can absorb, and this adaptation is reflected visually as color. Keep your brightest colored corals closest to the lights.
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Metal Halide Lights
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SPS (short polyped stony) corals are the most common corals in the skeleton category. More than any others, SPS corals require light sources that are dynamic. Metal halide lamps are ideal for use in maintaining SPS corals, which can be difficult to establish because of their extreme delicacy. Metal halide lamps provide an intense light source for aquariums. These lights encourage strong growth in SPS corals, which will grow at phenomenal rates under metal halides. Be careful and keep a close eye on your aquarium once the SPS corals are established. You may need to cut them back often. Your cuttings will produce "frags," which you can then propagate in a "coral farm" as many aquarium hobbyists do.
Fluorescent and Lunar Lights
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For soft corals and other polyps, PC (power compact) and VHO (very high output) fluorescent lights work very well. T5 fluorescent systems are effective for corals that require moderate lighting. Also try lunar lights or moonlights to promote night spawning in corals, which leads to increased growth with the added benefit of allowing you to view the nightlife of your aquarium.
Monitor Lighting
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Properly acclimating your aquarium coral reef to lights and maintaining appropriate lighting systems and schedules will make a positive difference in the health and growth of your coral. For a beautiful home reef that grows and thrives, monitor your light systems diligently.
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References
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- Photo Credit corail image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com
