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Before addressing this question, probably the first thing to discuss
is why people actually want to encourage coralline algae growth.
Coralline algae is a calcerous red algae that can come in a variety of
different colours and growth forms. Typically it is purple or red
and encrusts over surfaces. Many hobbyists like it as it looks
colourful, attractive and competes with more nuisance types
ofalgae. A rock covered in coralline algae can look a lot more
attractive than a dull grey / green rock without.
Since coralline algae is calcerious, as with any other calcifying
organism (such as hard corals) it requires similar conditions.
This includes:
- suitable light intensity
- stable and sufficient calcium concentration
- stable and sufficient alkalnity levels
- low phosphate concentrations
The required light intensity for coralline algae (as for any other
photosynthetic organisms, including corals) depends on the actual
species of algae and what it is adapted to grow in.
Depends on the speices that you have in there. If it is adapted to
low
light levels, then it will do fine under NO lights. If it is from a
higher light region, then of course it will require higher light
intensity. "Generally", the coralline found on liverock does do
better until lower light levels, nothing really super intense.
This isn't surprising, considering the areas and depths that collectors
get the liverock from. Addintionally, with upgrading of light
from say 250W MH to 400W MH, some hobbyists find that the coralline
algae on the upper surfaces of the rock bleach and die. Reason
for this is that the algae is just like corals, it needs to be
gradually acclimatised to the new lighting. Additionally, there
is an upper limit to the intensity that it can adapt to handle, based
on the species of algae.
The
final requirement is herbivores, such as fish, snails and
urchins. The system has to have there different herbivores
present in order to consume the micro and macro algae that will grow on
the rock. Otherwise these types of algae will out compete the
coralline algae.
Note: don't get the small pink, red or white spikey clusters that are
typically visible on the underside of liverock. That is infact
formaniferans, not coralline algae.
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