If it does all those other things thats nice but all it does that I care about is it add color to otherwise dull liverock and keep green algae from taking hold. Mine grows all over powerheads, filters, snail shells and anything else hard and under light in the tank but does not grow on the glass which I am thankful for. Kind of odd though to have all the liverock, every snail and hermit blotched with it, two powerheads and hang on filter nearly covered and none on the glass.