coralline growth

[jasony816]

Is coralline growth a indication of a healthy SPS reef system overall?

 

[jda]

Typically, yes... but not always. The same conditions that grow SPS also grow lots of coralline.

There are a few exceptions to this... super high intensity lighting will inhibit some colors of coralline from growing - purple is one of these. I am not talking about AI SOL Blue intensity, more like many 400W Radiums or 250W Phoenix bulbs over a small area.

 

[jasony816]

My tank has never had any coralline growth and I have had it for a year already. My corals are not really growing as fast too so maybe there is something wrong.

 

[LoJack]

usually low levels of coralline are associated with lower levels of calcium and magnesium … but not always the case.

But like JDA said … I've noticed the same thing, under really intense high par light, you can have great SPS growth and limit your coralline. My tank has changed a lot … and now that my levels have stabilized, my calcium is higher than it used to be and I have less coralline coverage, yet faster SPS growth. Under the right lighting, its almost like the SPS can out compete the coralline for available dissolved calcium and sodium carbonate

 

[reefsurfer777]

I thought coraline algae was already embedded in the live rock, and grew due to trace elements in the water and coraline consuming nitrates for growth...:facepalm:

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I thought coraline algae was already embedded in the live rock, and grew due to trace elements in the water and coraline consuming nitrates for growth...:facepalm:

I believe you're thinking of nuisance macro algae.

 

[jasony816]

i am using a ATI 6x54 with 5 blue+ and 1 coral+ on a 75 gallon, not sure if that is consider high light.

 

[barjam]

Typically, yes... but not always. The same conditions that grow SPS also grow lots of coralline.

There are a few exceptions to this... super high intensity lighting will inhibit some colors of coralline from growing - purple is one of these. I am not talking about AI SOL Blue intensity, more like many 400W Radiums or 250W Phoenix bulbs over a small area.

High power lighted tanks will still grow coralline very well just not on exposed surfaces (that aren't plastic).

On the other hand my frag tank is growing coralline but not SPS. It is a small tank with LEDs so any number if things could be going wrong there.

 

[barjam]

i am using a ATI 6x54 with 5 blue+ and 1 coral+ on a 75 gallon, not sure if that is consider high light.

Pick up a rock and look underneath it. Is it completely purple? If not you probably have a chemistry issue. After a year it should be covered in coralline.