[WorkinMan]

I'm wondering what the key in lighting is for good coarline and macro algae growth. I'm setting up a 29 G FOWLER with a sump, possibly with some macro in the display as well. This is my first SW tank. Is the key for good growth in the Keven temp of the lamps, or is it more in the intensity of the lighting? I have read that the color of the corline depends on the intensity, but have not found anything that discusses what kelvin temp is best for it. Thanks in advance.

[Krazy]

Bill,

Lighting will help with the coraline no doubt, but I think it has more to do with your calcium and alk being in part along with a well kept-tank, eventually it will grow all over everything in the tank, glass, pumps, rocks..

I've found when I first started out with power compacts I had AWESOME purple/pink coraline, then when I switched to halides, my rocks were BARE, the high intense light seemed to bleach it off, but its back now and slowly taking over again...

I would say it'll grow regardless of your lighting, as long as you have at least power compact lighting over the tank, I'd just watch you calcium and alkalinty and soon enough you'll say WOW to all that purple/pink goodness

[crazygator]

the kelvin temp is basically how pure the lighting color. a 20,000 temp will be a pure blue light, very high intensity, like noon sun at the equator. can bleach your upper corals out. 10,000 to 6700 temp is perfect for a folwr tank. my mini-reef runs a 14000 high intensity with a slight blue cast to the light. a 10,000 is almost pure white lower is more yellow and higher is more blue. i kind of ran around the world in this explanation but that is the gist of it.
coraline is grown with calcium, a great product for coraline production is "purple-up". just remember fish only don't really like to much calcium.

[WorkinMan]

Thanks for the lighting tips all. I'm thinking of getting some of the calcareous macroalgae like the Shaving Brush plants and some Halimead to kind of "spice up" the tank untill I get confident enough to try out some of the easier coarls, and to help me get used to testing and maintaining proper calcuim levels as well as controlling nitrate levels so these should help use up the calcium that the coarline doesn't. Is my thinking right in this? Would it be easier to dose limewater with these macros or would the purple-up be enough?