[dx7fd2]

Coralline does need to be on the LR to begin with. The algae blooms should pretty much go in this order:

Diatom (brownish red mushy looking stuff, snails and crabs should take care of this)

Green turf algae (again snails, crabs and some fish will eat this)

Start of green coralline that will look kind of lime colored all over the rock that has no other growth. You should also see the start of some purple and pink coralline that will eventually takeover the green except in the highest light areas.

All of this can take from 6-8 months to a year and a half. Coralline grows slower in high light so you will see it growing faster near the bottom of the rock structures. There are some very good articles about coralline at GARF.org, but don't take everything they say as the only way to do things. Every situation is different.

As you know, undesirable algae is the result of nutrients and phosphates *in the water. *Controlling these two items will control the algae blooms fairly well along with help from our friends the snails and crabs.

Remember when the food source is gone you will need to supplement something for your snails and crabs, especially if you went overboard on stocking the tank with them. I only have about 12 crabs and maybe 20 snails and they eat other stuff when there is no algae.

Drew