Explosive coralline growth after moonlights

[fohadi16]

So as the title says I have experienced some crazy coralline growth after setting up the moonlight cycle on the AI prime. I started this new tank with gulf live rock about 3 months ago so youd assume the tank is extremely new and immature, however, after introducing moonlight cycle I have beautiful pink coralline specs everywhere. I got extremely lucky because I have both geniculate and nongeniculate coralline that hitchiked on the rock. This tank currently looks better than the other one I started way back in March (granted I used dry rock for that). Anyways I just wanted to know if anyone had any similar experiences with the moonlight thing. Cant post a picture right now as lights are off, however, I will try to update this thread and see if the growth continues!

 

[Timfish]

For starters actual mooonlight is significantly less than 1 PAR and has a color temperature around 4000K. Your coraline is gettin enough blue light using the "moonlight" option or level for photosynthesis. (Often aquarist report getting coraline growth under rocks and not on top due to light levels being tooo hign for the species they have.) Back in the 90s when wild live rock was plentiful systems could be set up and ready for corals pretty much instaneously. The same can be done with maricultured live rock like you're seeing in your system and as demonstrated by Aquabiomics. If you haven't added any corals I'd be adding some to help mature your system faster and promote biomes beneficial to corals and compete with algae for the nutrients.

 

[fohadi16]

For starters actual mooonlight is significantly less than 1 PAR and has a color temperature around 4000K. Your coraline is gettin enough blue light using the "moonlight" option or level for photosynthesis. (Often aquarist report getting coraline growth under rocks and not on top due to light levels being tooo hign for the species they have.) Back in the 90s when wild live rock was plentiful systems could be set up and ready for corals pretty much instaneously. The same can be done with maricultured live rock like you're seeing in your system and as demonstrated by Aquabiomics. If you haven't added any corals I'd be adding some to help mature your system faster and promote biomes beneficial to corals and compete with algae for the nutrients.

Got corals in already! My dumb clowns are trying to host my tiny duncan that only has 3 heads. Currently its been closed for a few days. I'm thinking I may need to put a water bottle over it haha. I would love to add a BTA but I'm not sure if the tank is mature enough yet. Any thoughts? (all readings have been stable the past few weeks with the occaisional nitrate spiking from 6 to 8, but its just in time for my water change so no biggie)

 

[Timfish]

It really depends on the BTA. There can be significant differences in immune systems at the genotype level and some of hte BTA clone lines anecdotally have to be treated with antibiotics so when you decide to buy one that's an important question to ask. I have three clone lines in my systems I wouldn't hesitate to add to a new system.