[Blackjacktang]

How long does it take until you have lots of coraline algae in you tank. i have sme spots of it on my live rock but how long until there is LOTS of it in my tank.

[glampka]

All depneds on how many things you have in the tank competing for the calcium, regularity of water changes & if you're adding calcium.

[cappy290]

My tank has been up for about six months and I have coraline algae all over my rocks and the back of the tank. I even saw some growing on the glass in some spots. I think it was around three months where i had a great deal of growth on everything. You will have it all over your tank also I guess it takes just alittle time.

[e_baer]

i have the same sort of question.

why does my algae only gro on the glass and not the rocks?

and its not because i dont have enough flow on my rocks.

[viperdragon666]

depends on lighting to it likes atinic light better

[e_baer]

well, i have 4 12000k 65w bulbs, and 2 50/50 65w bulbs

[SweeTang22]

Originally Posted by e_baer

well, i have 4 12000k 65w bulbs, and 2 50/50 65w bulbs

junk the 50/50. thats probably why. 50/50's break up the actinic and you will never get the full strength of actinic. i used an additional actinic light and my coraline grew all of the back on my glass and on the rock in about 6 weeks.

[glampka]

It all depends on the variety of coraliine algae you have in your tank. Some require more light than others.

[e_baer]

well, the thing is, is that i used to have 2 10k and 2 actinics, then one of the 10k bulbs burned out and i put an actinic in there and had it in there for about 3 weeks. i didnt notice a difference in the coraline algae.

and if your wondering what my calcium is, its at 420.

i have pink on my glass, but cant get it to grow on my rockwork. i also have some reddish colored coraline in some of the shaded areas of my rock, but it will only go in the shade.

ive tried everything to get it to grow.

scrapping some off and letting it float around for a while with my pumps off.

have a PH near the algae to help spread it.

[Fishhead Junkie]

i wish my tank would get some coraline algae. i have maybe 3 small spots on the back of my tank near the filter intake. other than that...nothing. i try and do my 20% water change every week or so. i was adding PURPLE UP but i have a feeling i was over doing it...i lost some fish. the LFS said you couldnt really OD your tank on PURPLE UP but i think he was full of it. i gave up on it.

so, do you think if i had the atinics turn on early, let them go for longer than an hour before the brights come on, and then turn the brights off earlier at night and let the atinics run longer i might get more coraline algae??? i think i might just try that. i only have the stock lights on my 29gallon bio cube...do you think they are enough??

steve

[glampka]

It takes time. How long has that tank been set-up? I normally leave the blues on for a minimum of 2 hr before & after my daylights are on. My growth is good. It's not going to spread like wild fire.

[e_baer]

my tank has been up for 2 years.

and i have the 50/50's on for 2 hours before and after the 4 12k 65w lights.

but RIGHT NOW im gonan go and change the 5/50's to the actinics.