How to slow growth and increase colour.

[Fisherman Joe]

Hi all.

Have a 5 year old system. 600L (120g)

Heavy stocked with all sorts. Corals and fish.

Noticed recently more biofilm stuff growing on the glass. Nothing changed to my knowledge except dosing trace elements following a ICP test.

My parameters are all >8.0 - 8.5, pH >8, Ca 440, Mg 1350, salinity 1.024, PO4 0.13mg/l (ppm) NO3 I don’t measure.

Someone suggested in the LFS to lower alkalinity to like 6 to slow growth and increase colour but I thought that high alk stops growth if biofilm?

Any tips?

 

[KrisReef]

I would not mess with alk. I have seen too many bad things happen to reefers who had alk changes with horrible results. If I wanted less growth and more color I would lower PAR, or lower photoperiod but increase blue light spectrum.

Otherwise, I would just leave it alone and trim the excess, donating to the LFS or trading for supplements.

 

[Formulator]

I don’t know about slowing growth, but raising nitrates if you are running low nutrients usually results in a good color boost.