coralline lighting

[skiergd011013]

i got a new 55 gallon reef tank. i want good coralline algae growth. i have read coralline likes actinic light. i currently have t5 ho lighting with 2x 54w 12000k daylight and 2x 54w actinic. should i have 3 actinic bulbs and one daylight bulb? will lps coral be able to thrive under 75% actinic light?

[chrisd]

coraline will grow under most any kind of light. you can change the light to what looks best to you but i would not run 3 actinic bulbs.

[jenglish]

LPS coral will most likely not do that well under 75% actinics just because actinics put off less PAR (usable light) than other bulbs. I have heard the actinics and corraline story before but I have no idea whethor there is any validity or if it is just an old reefer's tale. Corraline will grow under just about any light.

[Seamore]

No, and no (to both of your questions). Keep your water parameters good calcium in the 400 mg/L range and add some rock with coraline on it to seed the tank, use the bulbs you have unless you do not like the coloration they produce. Nature will take it's course. Good luck.

[Kakalakasha]

Originally Posted by Seamore

some rock with coraline on it to seed the tank

How exactly does the "seeding" work?
Does coraline release spores like other algaes or will it just encrust from rock to rock?
Or possibly something different?

[Seamore]

From my experience it will travel in the water. You can accelerate the process by scraping it off the rock or off the walls of the tank and letting it migrate in through the tank. Also there are many different types and colors of coraline, depending on where the rock came fro. I collect rubble from different origins and have lots of different colors in the display tank, pinks, maroons...