Coralline Algae Loosing Color

[VoodooChild]

Heyya folks. I had picked up some really good LR on Friday and already my bright purple 4 lber rock is becoming a lighter pink. It's not too important to me, but I really like the look of it. Two NO bulbs, about 2" from the water's surface, one 20w and the other 30 w are all that lights the tank. Water is very hard, haven't checked in a bit, and the Ca is running around 400 ppm. Is it normal to die down a bit after introduction to a tank or will the lighting or lack of really knock it out? Thanks.

[OrionGirl]

Actually, it's probably not dying. Coralline is brighter purple in high lights, but will thrive even on the underside of rocks--it's just white then.

Of course, after the shrimp, how much faith do you have in my advice? ;)

[VoodooChild]

Sounds good. Does this apply to the green coralline as well? Thanks Orion.:)

[OrionGirl]

Green might actually be photosynthetic, which would mean it does need some light. How much, I can't say.

[BrianH]

FWIW I have some of these mushrooms in my tank. In my tank they seem to like a little shade. My lighting is 4 X 96 watt PC over a 50gal tank. I guess I would call that medium lighting.

Brian