rock only tank

[goldadam]

Hey folks I got a rock only tank. I was wondering how many hours per day of lighting to keep the purple coral algae happy.

It also has;

seabae clown
pink damsel
blue damsel
big chocolate chip star
2 baby feather dusters
zebra mat
and 3 EVIL peppermint shrimp

Thanks for your input

Adam Gold

[wanareef]

What kind of lights do you have? What the CA?

[goldadam]

by the way its a mini reef. Its a true view tank (retrofitted with real filtration). I think its 10-12 gal. I has compact florescent lights. The new kind that screw into a incandescent fixture. They are 50/50.

Adam Gold

[Imaexpat2]

That actually sounds like a pretty cool idea for a small/nano tank if you got some really interesting choice rock to toss into it.

Got pics?

Might have to be my next "project". Lord knows I have plenty of spare 10-30 gallon tanks laying around collecting dust while I figure out something worth while to do with them.

[DonJasper]

Originally posted by goldadam
Hey folks I got a rock only tank. I was wondering how many hours per day of lighting to keep the purple coral algae happy.

It also has;

seabae clown
pink damsel
blue damsel
big chocolate chip star
2 baby feather dusters
zebra mat
and 3 EVIL peppermint shrimp

Thanks for your input

Adam Gold

If my experience is any guide you list is soon to be:
seabae clown
pink damsel
blue damsel
big chocolate chip star
zebra mat
and 3 EVIL peppermint shrimp (burp!)

Not exactly an answer to your questions, but some observations that may help decide: Judging by the way that I've heard MH guys complain ("How can I get any more colors than purple?")- the purple seems to be the most light loving of the coraline algea. The red pink green etc seem to like very moderate lighting.


I'm guessing the NO lighting might work fine for coraline algea. I've found coraline likes vertical surfaces with my PC lights, and seems to be thriving in shaded corners (horizontal and vertical surfaces both). FWIW.