MANGROVE AND ALGAE QUESTION

[DanC40]

Hello everyone.
Just had a question
I had purchased two mangrove shoots about 1 month and half ago. They are in my sump with a grow light right on top. So far nothing has grown except some roots. I don't have super high nutrients. It is a new tank about 3 months but it is pretty stable.

Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2ppm
Kh. 11
Phosphate as of today .06 was .25 ppm but I bought some gfo and reactor and trying to bring it to a lower stable number due to algae hair algae.
Calcium 420ppm
Magnesium 1290ppm
S.G 1.024
Temp 78 degrees

I also never had corraline algae read it is beneficial. I use rodi water.

So I wanted to know 1. Is there anything that I can do or am doing that could be slowing the growth again I have a small bulb grow light on it 18watss it's purple and violet color.
2. Should I worry about growing corraline algae to help me with nuisance algae.


I appreciate any experience and info. Thanks.

 

[Miami Reef]

New tanks will often grow algae no matter how low you keep your nutrients. Coralline algae will come once your tank passes through the algae stage, but it needs to be introduced. Purchasing a few snail shells with some already encrusting, or a piece of live rock works.