Coralline algae growth question

[MzWeazelle]

We let coralline algae grow on two walls on our tank and have noticed that there is a definite line above which the coralline doesn't want to grow. It is so obvious it almost looks like we clean down about 5" and stop. On another thread I noticed someone wrote that coralline doesn't like strong MH lighting. We do have 2 250 MH lights on a 140 tank. Would they tend to retard growth to that depth?

 

[big t]

It could definately be part of the problem. I have noticed that since changing to MH that most of my corraline on my glass that was previously completely covered is now receded back to almost nothing.

 

[cdeakle]

I'm curious as well. I don't believe in too much light, I haveactually gotten more purple coralline growth since upgrading to MH's. I have the same problem, weird how it looks huh?

 

[MzWeazelle]

We've just noticed the effect in the last few weeks. I think that's because I've been better about keeping my calcium level up and I'm getting more coralline growth as a result.

If anyone has any research or links that talk about this I'd love to read more.

 

[reefer]

My purple coralline algae has started to turn to a light green or white color, Anyone know whats happening to it?

 

[jon warner]

We let coralline algae grow on two walls on our tank and have noticed that there is a definite line above which the coralline doesn't want to grow. It is so obvious it almost looks like we clean down about 5" and stop. On another thread I noticed someone wrote that coralline doesn't like strong MH lighting. We do have 2 250 MH lights on a 140 tank. Would they tend to retard growth to that depth?

Do you ever drain the tank 4 or 5 inches to change water? If the coralline algae gets dry even for a few minutes it WILL die. Most species of coralline algae flourish under light, but not all. Look at those beautiful pastel colored coralline algaes that show up on Tonga Branch and/or Marshall Island rock, that's deeper water low light coralline algae and most of it will disappear in our home tanks only to reappear on the UNDERSIDE of our live rock

Jon

 

[MzWeazelle]

Jon - now there's a thought! Normally we do NOT lower the tank water when we do a change. I know it means the change is less effective, but it also means there is a lot less disruption for the fish.

However this last time we DID lower the water level because we wanted to do a little rearranging. I think we lowered the water a little lower than the current line, but you may have hit on what happened. I think we started noticing the line shortly after that water change.

Thanks.

 

[tomz]

Actually, as we learned in the "Anthony Calfo " meeting, leaving the lights on when the water level is low is what bleaches the coralline algae as opposed to it drying out. I verified this the last time I had a low water level for a couple of hours. The coralline was fine when I filled back up unlike the previous time when I left the lights on.


Tom

 

[MzWeazelle]

The lights weren't on when we dropped the water - I was at the Calfo meeting, too, and remembered.

I don't know if the coralline was ever growing up all the way. Actually, it's almost more like the algae grew up so far and then stopped. Dropping the water level may have been part of the problem, but maybe not all.

I'll have to keep an eye on the tank and see what develops.