Corraline

[tattooedlife]

What the best additives to add for the growth of heavy corraline algea? Currently I have 50 lbs. in my 55. Running 2 40 watt 50/50's and 2 40 watt blue actinics. (I plan on sticking with these lights, at least for now.) How long should these lights be kept on? (Currently staying on about 8 hours a day.) Also what kind of corals can be kept with my lighting? (Polyps, mushrooms,?)

 

[parrothead]

Your set-up sounds just about the same as mine. I have had good luck lately with coralline algae spreading, so you should too. Coralline does use calcium, so watch your levels in the tank. Also, I have heard a protin skimmer can filter out many of the spores that coralline algae produces so it can spread. You might want to try shutting it off, but I personally never have. About the corals, polyps, etc.... I have had good luck with both brown and green star polyps (highly recommend them). Mushrooms have done well in my tank and also colt coral. You might want to try some leather coral or sun polyps also.

 

[kass]

I have simular lighting as you do. I keep the actinics on for 14 hrs and the daylight for 12 via timers. Actinics come on 1 hour before daylights and go off 1 hour later. I have 2 daylights, a triton and an actinic bulb. I've kept many corals with this lighting, including a bubble coral for 15 years(first coral I added) I also have a clam, mushrooms,leathers, colt, polyps, mostly anything except sps. As for calcium you can either add kalkwasser or the 2 part calcium products on the market for good coraline growth. In time the coraline grows, my tank is covered with it.