How to grow coraline algae FAST?

[foshizzle]

I'm going to build a few pillars for my new tank with dry base rock.
I'd like to cover the pillars with as much coraline as possible before moving them to the display.

I will be setting up a temporary 20g tub for this. What are the optimum conditions for growing coraline?
1) lighting: I can run 1,2,or 3 55w PC bulbs over the tank?
2) nutrients levels?
3) alkalinity?
4) etc.?

[Bainic]

high alk and high calcium, good water movement

[pledosophy]

keep alk and calcuim upto par.

Nutrients aren't all that important, at all, but seeding the liverock with bacteria does require some ammonia to feed the bacteria.

Just 1 55w would be fine IMO.

A piece of LR already containing coraline is helpful.

[McCrary]

Actinic PC, T5 or T12 bulbs do the trick, just set a lot of them over a tub and watch. We used 100 gallon rubber maid tubs and VHO actinics to grow coralline on live rock at the LFS I used to work so the customers thought they were getting awesome rock.

[drummereef]

Fast is an oxymoron when it comes to coralline. If you keep your alk, ca, mag levels balanced and solid week to week you will see coralline growth. Lighting required of course. ;)

[foshizzle]

anyone seen a difference with strontium, iodine, iron?

[oct2274]

make sure your alk, calcium, and magnesium are on and it'll be everywhere.........

[McCrary]

light + calcium = coralline algae, just give your rock lots of actinic light and time.

[NoSchwag]

strontium is what you want. don't overdose.

[Frick-n-Frags]

pretend you aren't watching it. :D

[boxfishpooalot]

Very low phosphates are key to any calcifying organism. As little as .19ppm of phosphate maintained for 3 hours per day is enough to limit calcification of corals by as much as 43%. And we are not only talking inorgainc phosphates but also organic phosphates.

[AngeloM3]

I'll sell you some coraline algae. $10 for a zip-loc bag full. :lol: :lol: