[bongobrian]

I have recently set up a new tank (about 2 months old now) and so far I've had some coraline growth but not as much as I would like. I know that the stuff grows slowly, but I wanted to make sure I was doing everything to make the perfect conditions for it to grow. I know that alkalinity and calcium levels are extremely important in growing coraline. I'm also adding reef DNA daily which has also helped a ton in growing coraline. Does anyone have any other advice on how I can make my conditions better? I know that coraline also grows better at first under low-light conditions so I'm wondering if I should maybe start by reducing my photoperiod? right now I'm at 8 hours per day with 2 55w PC bulbs (one daytime and one actinic). I know I need more lighting but right now I'm still battling with a micro algea problem and I think stronger lights would probably ruin my tank at this point. So am I missing something? should I be doing anything different? I purchased two new chunks of live rock (fiji type 2) about two weeks ago, and I havn't noticed hardly any coraline growth yet. It's kinda disappointing. Any help would be appreciated.

[jasonchi]

This is the tank specs/setup I have, I can that say I have good success on growing coraline. I have urchin in my tank chewing coraline and they grow back fast.

Now it depend on what coraline you want to grow. Greenlish usually like more light than Purple. Reducing the light may not work as well as you think, because it's the type of light, not length of light that grow coraline.

First, my Alk=11-14 Ca=460+ (maintain by Calcium reactor)
S.G.=1.025
Light combination of 2x250W iwasaki and 1x400w iwasaki, 320W Actinc VHO light.
Purple coraline generally found in lower part of the tank, and greenlish on the upper part.

I have no experience with PowerCompact, but it seems the VHO 03 light is light that would produce purpleish coraline to grow. Hope this helps.

Jason