Coralline Growth & Lighting

[TheReefGeek]

I am setting up a Coralline growth tank. (To cure and grow Coralline on the dry rock I sell)

My question is, what lighting should I use?

I know that different coralline grows best under different lighting conditions, but I was hoping some people could post pics of their coralline covered rocks, and report what lighting they are using, especially if you have "crazy" coralline growth.

[StirCrazy]

Mh, with a radium type bulb. in 3 weeks my temp tank full of dead rock and 20lbs of live rock with little coralline is starting to explode. My main tank with HQI 10K will cover the glass completly in about 2 months. the main tank coralline is a light pink color and the other one is a darker purple, and no rocks were common to these tanks so it could be two different vararations not because of lighting.

Steve

[TheReefGeek]

Thanks for the reply! What color temperature are the MH bulbs? Is that the only lighting, or are you supplimenting actinics?

[StirCrazy]

Thanks for the reply! What color temperature are the MH bulbs? Is that the only lighting, or are you supplimenting actinics?

radium is a 20K and no other lighting, the main tank as stated is 10K and it has 2 actinic VHO on it also.

Steve

[Willow]

i had unreal coraline growth with my pc bulbs, dark purple and some of those weird fuzzy red patches. when i switched over to 10k 175's it almost stopped growing on the glass and it went white on the plastic but the rocks still look good. there are some coraline suppliments you can try, like "purple up" by salifert or a kent buffer with coraline accelerator.

[richtg]

Not trying to hijack, but this is what I do to boost coraline growth (see lighting on my signature below). I find big chunks of scrolling coraline in my tank and put them into my mortar and pestle.
http://photoshare.shaw.ca/user/0/1/5/25447/25447_yqrMIv1139100539BqJkIo/IMG_0031.jpg
Then I grind away with some tank water
http://photoshare.shaw.ca/user/0/1/5/25447/25447_yqrMIv1139100539BqJkIo/IMG_0035.jpg
Then just use a baster to spray the solution onto whatever rocks you want the coraline to explode. Works great for me.
Rich.

[TheReefGeek]

TJ, great tip, I had heard of scrapping and distributing, but mortor and pestel should work even better!

[Ruth]

I don't know if this is relavent but it is my observations on my tanks
230g - calcium reactor - 3X400W MH Geisemann megachrome bulbs (13K) 2X PC actinic and 2X 10000K daylight - coralline OK but was better when using coralvue 15K (I think) bulbs (glass tank)
190g - calcium reactor - 3X400W MH Geisemann X 2 and Reeflux X1 - 2 Actinic T5 and 4 10000K daylight T5 - good growth on rocks but not much on back wall or equipment (acrylic tank)
44g cube - no calcium reactor - 1 X 250W Geisemann megachrome bulb - no supplimental lighting - excellent coralline growth on all rocks and sides of aquarium and internal equipment (glass tank)
24G JBJ Nano - no calcium reactor and no supplimenting calcium (weekly 30% water changes with Tropic Marin salt) 1 X 175W MH (can't even remember the K) and 2 X VHO actinic - amazing coralline growth everywhere.

So from my observation it would appear that the VHO bulbs seem to spark the most growth and colour.

Just my 2 pennies.

[TheReefGeek]

I wonder if it is more color spectrum related, or PAR value..... I was thinking about trying NO lighting, 10K + actinics in 12" tubs with the lighting quite close to the surface of the water.

[christyf5]

I was under the impression that coralline algae liked less lit areas. From my observations, coralline grows well under and on powerheads, and lower down on the glass (especially for the front glass). I wouldn't imagine in this case its so much about PAR but rather intensity??

[Beverly]

Wow, Rich! You have a mortar and pestle :biggrin: Great pics of them too :biggrin:

I thought having a turkey baster was an exotic but required reef tool, but a mortar and pestle is something I never even thought of :wink:

[StirCrazy]

I was under the impression that coralline algae liked less lit areas.

come tell mine that, I am tired of scraping the glass:neutral: :mrgreen:

I have found I get the fastest growth from intense lighting and proper chemestry, I found that by lowering my Ca to 380-390 I get about twice the coraline growth as I did at 430, my corals also increased there growth at the lower level. as for PC VS MH I have 3 tanks, 1 with 400 watt radium, 1 with 250 10K HQI (SE) and VHO actinic and one with PC's and VHO actinic. the fastest growth is from the 10K HQI, then next is the 400 radium and the slowest is the PC. a interesting thing to note the 10K HQI (fastest) and the PC (slowest) share the same water through a common sump so the only factor involved is the lighting.

Steve

[TheReefGeek]

Good info steve, thanks!