Purple

[hamdogg08]

How crucial is iodine in the growth of purple coraline algae? How long does it take to start growing?

[clownnut]

trust me, you dont want coraline algae.
cleaning is PITA

[wes]

trust me, you dont want coraline algae.
cleaning is PITA

especially if you have an acrylic tank... :mad:

[PLNelson]

IMO purple rocks look nicer than brown or green ones. Coraline covers more than just glass/acrylic. So what's the answer to the question?

[hypertech]

I don't dose anything and I'm coated with it. I think the key is to keep your Ca/Alk where it belongs. Once you have that if it still isn't growing fast, it might help to get a rock with a bunch on it to help seed the tank.

[gogregerson]

My experience has been that Coraline doesn't like 400w MH :)

[PLNelson]

I also had great growth with out any additives.

[David Grigor]

How crucial is iodine in the growth of purple coraline algae? How long does it take to start growing?

In the iodine articles from Randy, there is no mention anywhere that iodine is used by coraline algae.

If you feed frozen brine and/or mysis shrimp, likely you are providing more than enough iodine through food to your tank with no supplimentation.

To directly answer your question, it is not crucial for coraline aglae. Alkalinity, calcium, magnesium which are crucial for all calcifiation is what you should be concentrating on. As well as low nitrate and phosphates which inhibit calcification.

How long it takes is totally dependant on how much coraline already exists for seeding, water parameters ( particularly the ones stated above ), and lighting. As Glen mentions higher amounts of lighting as been observed to slow/impede coraline growth.

In my tank, I can put a totally white rock in there and by 2 weeks there will be hundreds of coraline dots all over it. Within 6 weeks or so, it's pretty much covered or well on it's way.....but like mentioned before it's totally dependant on your tank.

[hamdogg08]

150 watts over a 20H...Too much light?

[gogregerson]

Not at all. Just keep in mind with only 20gal volume heat can be an issue so make sure the MH is far enough off the water surface and that you provide enough ventilation.

[David Grigor]

150W should not impede coraline growth. It should grow well with the right water conditions.

[wes]

lighting changes can kill off/change the kinds of coralline you have, too. I'm seeing a die off/repopulation of purples since I changed from PCs to MH on my nano a month or so ago.

[hypertech]

Same here - mine has been changing to a different color purple and more of the green is dying off since I switched lights. I imaging it will happen again when I hookup the new light.