Live rock and hair algae

[Moonshadow54]

I'm new the saltwater hobby. I converted my 55gal. Cichlid tank to a reef tank back in December. I put the live rock in on Jan 18 and it seemed to start with lots of growth from the first week or two. I have a 250W Metal halide light with two 40 watt NO flourescents. An Emperor 400, Berlin Skimmer and one 1450 Marineland powerhead. My live rock now has a lot of green hair algae growing on it. I have noticed under the rocks a few pink spots starting to emerge. I assume it is coralline. If it is coralline, can I just turn over the live rock and let the powerhead spread it. Or will that kill off the hair algae and cause a spike. All my levels are good in the tank. Good water quality. I have 2 percula clowns, 1 cloudy damsel, 1 spiny oyster, 3 emerald crabs, and a pink tip haitian anemone in the tank right now.

 

[Germanman]

the coralline is an encrusting algae it will spread on its own. it needs high calcium to grow the flow wouldnt do much. what is ur calcium level?

 

[Moonshadow54]

Ca is about 380 right now. The flow is pretty good around the LR. I have them up on some base rock made from a 3 to 1 mix of portland cement and crushed oyster shells. The base rock has been cured for about 4 months and has a pretty good growth on it. Since the LR has only been in since Jan 18th. Could it be I may just be getting a little impatient on the coralline?

 

[Reefscape]

Yes, i suppose you could put it a little don to impatience..Corraline algae can take a good few months at least to start to grow properly. The point that you are starting to see pink spots, which is corraline starting, is a good starting sign that your tank is good enough for encrusting algae to form..your level of calcium is not that bad..Average calcium levels in a Reef i would suggest can be anywhere between 380 - 420..

Niko

 

[Germanman]

i would rase the calcium above 400 for nice growth. coralline usually takes a good 6-8 months to start up well but that also depends on the way the entire algae cycle started in ur aquarium. i have a nice graph that shows the cycle but id have to scan it. if ud like me to i will when i get home.