Coralline line

[mpyers]

So my coralline algae doesn't grow above a certain level in the tank for some reason. (See picture) I'm wondering if it's from too much PAR or too little? If too much, what about corals? Too much for them as well? I don't have any that high simply because I don't have the rocks. But I've thought about going higher. Ive also thought maybe the angle is too sharp for the light to reach it as well, because it will grow on power heads above that line. Idk it's always perplexed me, and I don't have a PAR meter to investigate with. What are your thoughts?

 

[mpyers]

 

[jlmawp]

A few of my coralline types don't like direct light, and yeah, now that you mention it, it doesn't really grow on the top thrid of the glass.

 

[mpyers]

This seems to be fine with direct light though, as it will grow readily on the power head directly under the lights right at the surface.

 

[jlmawp]

This seems to be fine with direct light though, as it will grow readily on the power head directly under the lights right at the surface.

It could be that flow is higher at the top of the tank, preventing it from taking hold? Glass is much tougher for coralline to grow on, but it loves plastic.

 

[Yagonyonok]

If I had to guess, I would suspect it has to do with incident angles, reflection, and refraction.


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[Goatonfly]

Mine doesn't grow very well the top 3-4 inches of my tank. I think it's because it's too high to get direct light with my light on the back of the tank. I think this because my powerhead is at the same height but on the side and under a light.

 

[heathlindner25]

Is "the line" basically where you lower the water during water changes?

 

[homer1475]

Is "the line" basically where you lower the water during water changes?

Good point! Never thought of it that way.

In my biocube which lowers the DT water level, the coralline doesn't grow above the low water mark. In my tank with a sump and overflow, the coralline grows right up to the top of the weir teeth as the water doesn't get lower then that(I do WC's from the sump).

 

[MondoBongo]

Is "the line" basically where you lower the water during water changes?

exactly what i was thinking. i noticed on my last tank that coraline tended not to grow above the "low tide" mark for my standard water change.

 

[mpyers]

Is "the line" basically where you lower the water during water changes?

Yes. That's almost exactly where i drain it to. Never thought of that. Now i almost want to upgrade my sump so i can do water changes out of that and not disturb the DT.

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[scooter31707]

Trust me, you don't want to get to happy with it. Before you know it you going be asking how to get rid of it. That stuff gets on my nerves. LOL..

 

[heathlindner25]

Yes. That's almost exactly where i drain it to. Never thought of that. Now i almost want to upgrade my sump so i can do water changes out of that and not disturb the DT.

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What's how I saw it.:spin3:

 

[mpyers]

So just to confirm, I started doing weekly 10% changes instead of biweekly 20% and sure enough it's growing higher now. Also I realized I should have started weekly changes a long time ago. I swear everything in the tank is happier and the hair algae I had is gone.

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