Coralline growth with LED's

[DSC reef]

The new A360X looks really nice. Saw them at MACNA this year.. waaaay smaller than the older models

Were thinking those or a pair of AP700

 

[ether]

I did a little lighting change up awhile ago and switched from 2 Mitras LED fixtures with supplemental T5's to 3 Mitras LED's without the T5. A local member was convinced my tank wouldn't grow coralline without the T5's.

Yeah, that's silly. There are lots of tanks up growing everything under just LED's.

 

[ndrwater]

I'll be upgrading my Original AI Hydras with these when they become available. Definitely don't mind being the guinea pig on these.

Were thinking those or a pair of AP700

I'm a Radion guy, but have to say the new Kessils are awesome. Especially the super small footprint of the 360x.

 

[Amoo]

I'm a Radion guy, but have to say the new Kessils are awesome. Especially the super small footprint of the 360x.

I think they're going to be the perfect lighting solution for my tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm dosing kalk and BRS 2 part. Still doing Mag by hand only because I'm too lazy to set up the doser. I even have the container, its just a matter of running the tubing... :confused:

Very much purple. The last picture is probably a hair darker than it looks under my daylight settings.

If you ever get a wild hair , TM balling made the bright pink explode. So much so I just had to stop and had to admit to being a cynical old reefer.
Also made my zoas darker.

I used Esv for a while , meh Corraline.
I’m on the BRS now too. Good but not overwhelming. Still get it on the front glass.

Back before dosing , and with compact Fluoros. I got deep dark purples. Now it’s a dark pink/purple

 

[Brew12]

If you ever get a wild hair , TM balling made the bright pink explode. So much so I just had to stop and had to admit to being a cynical old reefer.
Also made my zoas darker.

I used Esv for a while , meh Corraline.
I’m on the BRS now too. Good but not overwhelming. Still get it on the front glass.

Back before dosing , and with compact Fluoros. I got deep dark purples. Now it’s a dark pink/purple

Very interesting! I would never have considered that different Alk and Calc additives would impact coralline growth and color. Learn something new every day.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Very interesting! I would never have considered that different Alk and Calc additives would impact coralline growth and color. Learn something new every day.

Tropic Marin's Balling system has a calcium and alkalinity part like most two-part systems, but their third part is magnesium and trace elements. Their claim is that Part C is "sodium chloride-free" sea salt. Basically, Part C is supposed to have all the elements present in seawater except for calcium and alkalinity. This is supposed to help avoid the salinity increase that comes with two-part.

Or that's the story anyway. I can say that I've been dosing Tropic Marin's part C without the other parts, just for trace elements. I use limewater for my calcium and alkalinity, so I calculated how much Part C I need based on how much alkalinity my limewater is adding. I think I have noticed some monti cap frags coloring up a bit, especially the red ones.

 

[madweazl]

Instant Ocean with BRS 2 part (some Randys mix in there too over the past two years) and I have a dark, cyano-esque red. All rock was BRS reef saver with the exception of 5lbs of Fiji (pink corraline). I usually start with pink and then it goes dark red. Not sure the supplements make much of a difference.

 

[jda]

Nobody should think that. Coralline need very little light to grow and I had a 75g tank full of it with just 2 50/50 NO bulbs in a Home Depot 4' shop light. Bright light can inhibit some colors of coralline, though... but I doubt that this is what your friend meant.

I have also encrusted coralline in fuges lit by CFL bulbs.

 

[MTBake]

I have coralline growing where light doesn't even reach. I've also seen coralline grow on the bottom of plugs rather than the top when lit by strong leds

 

[DSC reef]

I'm excited to see better coralline growth with the kessil led lights:)

 

[jda]

Be careful what you all wish for... you will hate the stuff before long when it plugs up your pumps, flakes off of the side and back walls and needs scraping from the front glass a few times a week while it is still soft.

You will need to get used to using muratic acid since this much coralline just laughs at vinegar:

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

With the led lighting there will probably be a lot more coralline growth so we will have to get muriatic acid when the new tank arrives. Our halides and T5 didn't grow coralline well.

 

[madweazl]

I clean the back glass every Saturday and usually do the powerheads every other month; vinegar has been enough at that interval.

 

[MTBake]

Be careful what you all wish for... you will hate the stuff before long when it plugs up your pumps, flakes off of the side and back walls and needs scraping from the front glass a few times a week while it is still soft.

You will need to get used to using muratic acid since this much coralline just laughs at vinegar:

That plating coralline can be aggressive for sure. Had that in my last tank and I'm sure it's a matter of time till I see in this new setup.

I also use muriatic acid for cleaning equipment. Saves lots of time and money, IMO. Much more effective than vinegar. 20 minute soak in diluted solution, rinse and done. In most cases amyway.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I start dosing Kalkwaisser thru my ATO and I see a huge increase of coralline algae on ny DT and also my sump. Also my corals are getting happy and growing.

 

[MTBake]

Instant Ocean with BRS 2 part (some Randys mix in there too over the past two years) and I have a dark, cyano-esque red. All rock was BRS reef saver with the exception of 5lbs of Fiji (pink corraline). I usually start with pink and then it goes dark red. Not sure the supplements make much of a difference.

Does that red stuff feel kinda slimy? I think I have some of that in my tank have been wondering what I was. Looks the same for sure.

 

[Amoo]

i use a small pinch of citric acid in the vinegar, super cheap and I have it around for tumbling my reloading brass. Works well.

 

[madweazl]

Does that red stuff feel kinda slimy? I think I have some of that in my tank have been wondering what I was. Looks the same for sure.

Slimy is the cyano I was referring to and no, this isn't slimy. The coloration was a surprise as it's more like the Florida colored rock even though I went with a piece of Fiji for the seeding process. I wish it came off as easy as cyano.

 

[DSC reef]

i use a small pinch of citric acid in the vinegar, super cheap and I have it around for tumbling my reloading brass. Works well.

I like that idea, safer than muriatic acid.