coraline algae

[deep water]

looking for opions on how to grow coraline algae in my 90 gal tank under 2 x 250 watt mh lights. what should i be adding and what levels should i maintain. how long till it should start growing??????

[Fly Guy]

alk -8-11
mag 1300-1500
calcium 400-450

maintain all of these levels and it will start growing so fast you will wish it didnt

[ScruffyRubicon]

I second that! Especially the "growing so fast you will wish it didn't" part.

[deep water]

everyone says "you will soon wish i didn't" or want to stop it from growing.
isn't it a good thing in a reef tank and something we want to get a good base of???
or i am wrong.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by deep water

everyone says "you will soon wish i didn't" or want to stop it from growing.
isn't it a good thing in a reef tank and something we want to get a good base of???
or i am wrong.

its a necessary evil

the same things that make the coralline grow is what makes corals skeletons grow. the coralline iteslf isnt beneficial, but it is a sign that you are doing something right

[mg]

....and although nice to have on the rocks, it is a pain to scrape off the glass

[Debs]

A little coraline looks great, but too much will make you hate the color purple. Be careful what you wish for........

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by mg

....and although nice to have on the rocks, it is a pain to scrape off the glass

I dont want to hear it Mr Starfire. try having acrylic

[mg]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

I dont want to hear it Mr Starfire. try having acrylic

Acrylic, what's that? Yes not sure if I would ever go acrylic, I just don't scrape the glass often enough even though I have a friend that builds acrylic tanks.

ps the starfire is nice though

And just to contribute
as everyone else said maintain your
calcium around 400-450 ppm
alk around 8-11 dkh
and magnesium around 1250-1400ppm

I find it grows less for me in highly lit areas as well.

[deep water]

thanks guys