Coraline algae "food" - is it an algae or coral?

[CloruroDiSodio]

Hi gang,

We all know what coraline algae is, but if you broke it down further, what is it really? Is it considered a true algae where it makes it's food by photosynthesis but builds it structure from calcium based compounds like coral? I'm just trying to fine tune my tank to encourage it's growth. Other than keeping calcium and magnesium at their correct levels, is there a choice of lighting or photoperiod I should shoot for?

thanks

[805reef]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralline_algae

[CloruroDiSodio]

Thanks for the link, sounds like this algae needs some more research! It's funny something as common as this and not much is known about it. Reminds me of gravity, a 2nd grader could tell you what gravity is but of the x billion people in this world nobody could explain how it works!

[DetectiveTofu]

I think you're overlooking things a bit. Just keep water quality good, and calcium and alkalinity at their appropriate levels, and you coralline will begin growing on it's own. Of course you will need to introduce a starter colony of coralline to the tank, as coralline doesn't grow out of nowhere.

[CloruroDiSodio]

Hi Detective Tofu,

Thanks for the reply. The coraline is growing ok on the glass etc, it is just very slow (seems to have grown quickly to a point then slowed down). I was just curious if there was anything else I could do to help it along.

[Whys]

Originally posted by CloruroDiSodio
Thanks for the link, sounds like this algae needs some more research! It's funny something as common as this and not much is known about it. Reminds me of gravity, a 2nd grader could tell you what gravity is but of the x billion people in this world nobody could explain how it works!

So true.

[eric@tampa]

Just keep your big 3...Ca,Alk and Mg in range and look out