Anyway to encourage different coralline coloration

nubomb · 06/05/2006, 01:04 PM

The majority of the live rock in my tank is purple and the coralline is spreading to the glass, powerheads, etc. I just bought another 20lbs and there is not a great deal of coralline on them. The little patches that are on the rock are light green and pink in color. I'm assuming the purple will eventually color over those areas as well. Is there anything that can be done to avoid this and encourage different colors?

TekCat · 06/05/2006, 01:10 PM

tagging along

I also want to know what could be done to promote red and green coralline. and to make purple less intrusive.

dkh0331 · 06/05/2006, 01:20 PM

'Tis what it is.

You cannot encourarge any particular color.

David

TekCat · 06/05/2006, 02:00 PM

I disagree, it is an algae. In SW we do try to control one algae to outcompete other type (macro vs micro).

There is got to be a way to encourage particurlar speices growth. I just don't know if anyone researched what this particurlar type of organisms (green/red coralline) needs.

Danfish · 06/05/2006, 02:02 PM

I'm pulling this all out of my butt, but, since coraline is a photosynthetic algae it will probably react more to difrent shades of light.

for example the purple is using all shades except purple, so that is reflected and gives it its color (I'm totaly trying to remember this from 6th grade science on plant color).

So I'd guess you could encourange one color over another with a properly tinted light source. No way of knowing without doing controlled tests with various HO lights. Altho it would make sense because purple is the most common coraline in aquariums and most aquariums strive for the same high end color spectrum.

I'm likely completely wrong but its just a guess mixed with speculation supported by a bad memory and faulty logic.

I have a nice shot of some various colors of coraline starting to grow in my tank. Greed, Orange, Red, purple.
This is a link to a very large image.
If you are on 56k you might want to skip it.
This image is ~750k, 2,500x550pix

http://imagedump.filefactory.com/full.php?id=11452

nubomb · 06/05/2006, 02:21 PM

I was thinking lighting played the biggest role but I've seen estbalished tanks with an array of colors so I was wondering if it's due to type of rock, where it came from or certain supplements over others. Or if there was a way to help seed different colors. I always here that by scraping the coralline off the glass helps to spread/seed other rock. Is there any scientific proof to this? Wondering if there is a way to scrape the live rock itself and try and seed other areas?

Amphiprion · 06/05/2006, 02:27 PM

Actually, herbivory tends to encourage coralline diversity. If one species (i.e. color) is rampant, herbivory will allow others to take hold.

06/05/2006, 01:04 PM	#1
nubomb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 80	Anyway to encourage different coralline coloration The majority of the live rock in my tank is purple and the coralline is spreading to the glass, powerheads, etc. I just bought another 20lbs and there is not a great deal of coralline on them. The little patches that are on the rock are light green and pink in color. I'm assuming the purple will eventually color over those areas as well. Is there anything that can be done to avoid this and encourage different colors?

06/05/2006, 01:20 PM	#3
dkh0331 Es gibt keinen ersatz Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Close to the edge, down by a river Posts: 3,581	'Tis what it is. You cannot encourarge any particular color. David __________________ Just found out that grandpa has a drug addiction. He is addicted to viagra. No one is taking it harder than grandma.

06/05/2006, 02:27 PM	#7
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Actually, herbivory tends to encourage coralline diversity. If one species (i.e. color) is rampant, herbivory will allow others to take hold. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

06/05/2006, 01:10 PM	#2
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	tagging along I also want to know what could be done to promote red and green coralline. and to make purple less intrusive.

06/05/2006, 02:00 PM	#4
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	I disagree, it is an algae. In SW we do try to control one algae to outcompete other type (macro vs micro). There is got to be a way to encourage particurlar speices growth. I just don't know if anyone researched what this particurlar type of organisms (green/red coralline) needs.

06/05/2006, 02:02 PM	#5
Danfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 296	I'm pulling this all out of my butt, but, since coraline is a photosynthetic algae it will probably react more to difrent shades of light. for example the purple is using all shades except purple, so that is reflected and gives it its color (I'm totaly trying to remember this from 6th grade science on plant color). So I'd guess you could encourange one color over another with a properly tinted light source. No way of knowing without doing controlled tests with various HO lights. Altho it would make sense because purple is the most common coraline in aquariums and most aquariums strive for the same high end color spectrum. I'm likely completely wrong but its just a guess mixed with speculation supported by a bad memory and faulty logic. I have a nice shot of some various colors of coraline starting to grow in my tank. Greed, Orange, Red, purple. This is a link to a very large image. If you are on 56k you might want to skip it. This image is ~750k, 2,500x550pix http://imagedump.filefactory.com/full.php?id=11452

06/05/2006, 02:21 PM	#6
nubomb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 80	I was thinking lighting played the biggest role but I've seen estbalished tanks with an array of colors so I was wondering if it's due to type of rock, where it came from or certain supplements over others. Or if there was a way to help seed different colors. I always here that by scraping the coralline off the glass helps to spread/seed other rock. Is there any scientific proof to this? Wondering if there is a way to scrape the live rock itself and try and seed other areas?