How to stop coralline from bleaching

[livinlifeinBKK]

About a week ago I got some rock fresh from the ocean with some beautiful coralline algae on it but I'm concerned that I might experience bleaching due to my crappy light...(it's a FOWLR so lighting isn't as important as it would be for a reef tank). It's a 30 watt light and has two settings which let you choose between white light and blue lighting. I heard the blue is where the "par" comes from which is what the coralline needs to keep its color vibrant so should I have the blues on for at least part of the day or is should the white light be just as good since it contains all wavelengths? It's also close enough to a window to receive some natural light but how much is what I'm not sure about. If it does bleach will the color return after buying a new light? I know coralline doesn't need high light but what should I do if I notice the start of bleaching?

 

[Jekyl]

With proper lighting coraline will grow on its own. With not enough light it won't. Natural light isn't usually a good thing as it promotes algae growth also.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

With proper lighting coraline will grow on its own. With not enough light it won't. Natural light isn't usually a good thing as it promotes algae growth also.

How strong does the lighting need to be though? Will lighting for soft corals work or does it need to be more intense like SPS lighting?

 

[Jekyl]

How strong does the lighting need to be though? Will lighting for soft corals work or does it need to be more intense like SPS lighting?

Soft coral lighting would be fine. Coraline even grows in the shaded areas of my tank.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Soft coral lighting would be fine. Coraline even grows in the shaded areas of my tank.

Ok, on the one hand I hate to have to buy a new light, on the other I'd hate to have this coralline lose its color...since low lighting sounds like it's ok, I'll leave it how it is for now

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Soft coral lighting would be fine. Coraline even grows in the shaded areas of my tank.

This is the box the light came in...do you by chance recognize it?

 

[Jekyl]

This is the box the light came in...do you by chance recognize it?

Sorry I don't. From a quick search it does at least advertise that it is usable for coral. Being only 30w I wouldn't try any corals that require high lighting.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Sorry I don't. From a quick search it does at least advertise that it is usable for coral. Being only 30w I wouldn't try any corals that require high lighting.

Thanks for taking the time to do a quick search...That's what I love about this site, users actually care enough to try to offer genuine help and advice!

 

[mermaid_life]

Lighting is somewhat important for coralline but just as important will be alk and ca stability. Since it's a Fowler tank, not sure how much you plan on monitoring those two, but thought it would be good to mention. Regular water changes would sustain adequate levels.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Lighting is somewhat important for coralline but just as important will be alk and ca stability. Since it's a Fowler tank, not sure how much you plan on monitoring those two, but thought it would be good to mention. Regular water changes would sustain adequate levels.

I appreciate the reminder...since it's a new tank I've been doing small water changes every few days and I make sure to use quality salt (red sea) and control the nitrates as well

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Lighting is somewhat important for coralline but just as important will be alk and ca stability. Since it's a Fowler tank, not sure how much you plan on monitoring those two, but thought it would be good to mention. Regular water changes would sustain adequate levels.

Do you think I should be running only the blues for part of the day or should the white light be adequate?

 

[Jekyl]

Do you think I should be running only the blues for part of the day or should the white light be adequate?

Mix of both

 

[Cell]

If you let it touch air, it's probably toast.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If you let it touch air, it's probably toast.

Really? I haven't heard that before...why can encrusting corals touch air during fragging and not be affected then?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

This is the box the light came in...do you by chance recognize it?

aquaknight A029, I have 2 currently running. What are you running the whites and blues at? And what kind of tank?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

aquaknight A029, I have 2 currently running. What are you running the whites and blues at? And what kind of tank?

It's a FOWLR tank so no coral just several species of coralline algae...tbh I think mine might be a knock off since I can choose only between the blues or whites and the buttons only dim the light...I live in Bangkok so this wouldn't be a huge surprise if it was a knockoff.

 

[X-37B]

Run both lights you will be fine.
I have coralline growing in my frag tank sump. The sump is open and only gets indirect light.
It will grow with your current light system. You can always upgrade later. The old black box leds grow coral and coralline very well.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Run both lights you will be fine.
I have coralline growing in my frag tank sump. The sump is open and only gets indirect light.
It will grow with your current light system. You can always upgrade later. The old black box leds grow coral and coralline very well.

Great! I'm relieved to hear that!

 

[Cell]

Really? I haven't heard that before...why can encrusting corals touch air during fragging and not be affected then?

The best answer I can give is that coral is not algae. Coral will slime to protect itself when exposed to air.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

It's a FOWLR tank so no coral just several species of coralline algae...tbh I think mine might be a knock off since I can choose only between the blues or whites and the buttons only dim the light...I live in Bangkok so this wouldn't be a huge surprise if it was a knockoff.

From the box, it's the real deal lol The touch buttons lower the intensity by 10% for each push. I have mine running at 100% blues, 20-30% white (20 for coral, 30 for anemones). So 20% white is 8 button presses after you've gotten the light to be 100% white (one button press after the whites are off entirely)