Cant grow new coraline algae

[Mike7744]

I can't seem to grow or maintain new Coraline algae. I have a 75 gallon Fowler tank. 20gal sump . I have 35 pounds of gulf live rock. That had beautiful purples and oranges and reds Coraline algae. But now it is looking kind of dull and brownish. I just added 40 pounds of dry rock that I want to seed with new Coraline. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Here are my water parameters. My tank is 1-year-old.
If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I'm looking to make this a beautiful tank. Thank you

NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2=0
NO3=0
DKH=9.6
CALCIUM =441
PH=8.0
PO4=1.0
Water temp = 79deg

 

[Mike7744]

Here is the tank

 

[danimal1211]

How are you testing NO3? Zero is not a good number. Do you have urchins or lots of asterina starfish?

 

[Mike7744]

How are you testing NO3? Zero is not a good number. Do you have urchins or lots of asterina starfish?

I have 3 black spine urchins that were hitchhikers on the live rock. I'm using API test kit. Isn't NO3 Nitrate.

 

[TokenReefer]

Coralline like other algae and coral would need some detectable nutriens other than just PO4 in my mind. Maybe start there?

 

[Pistondog]

Here is the tank

looks like you still have some pink coralline on the rock.
The urchins eat coralline.
Try scraping the existing coralline to get some bits floating around.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The tank looks sterile for one year old tank, not even algae in the corners, the heater, where the sand meets the glass, nothing. It looks like it was cycled yesterday.

Are the lights on? What type of lights, what intensity? Coraline needs good light to grow. Needs flow & nutrients, it needs good reef conditions to grow.

 

[Reign1]

YEAH the test seems a little odd that Nitrates are zero. I cannot tell but are there fish in there?
I had a really old reef ( 10+ yr,90gal) that wasn't growing much coralline. I finally added some Mg and it really took off and has been growing good for the last year.

 

[Mike7744]

I have 2 fish right now, a porcupine puffer, and a Niger trigger

 

[Mike7744]

Lights are Kessel A80s

 

[Pistondog]

Lights are Kessel A80s

Not enough light.

 

[Jekyl]

Using tap water? Also agree that zero nitrate is a bad thing and would like to see magnesium numbers.

 

[Mike7744]

Using RODI water

 

[Mike7744]

Why is 0 Nitrate a bad thing

 

[Jekyl]

Why is 0 Nitrate a bad thing

Nitrate is a food source for corals and algae alike. Having zero nutrients can also lead to dinos.

 

[Mike7744]

Should I be dosing Nitrate

 

[Jekyl]

Should I be dosing Nitrate

I would get a second opinion on testing as API hasn't been shown to be the most reliable. If confirmed, then some sort of extra nutrients is warranted.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Coraline algae is a calcareous algae that needs nutrient’s just like any other algae, it just happens to produce a calcareous shell, so to speak. So just like any other algae that needs nitrogen and phosphate to grow, it also needs proper calcium, alk, PH and lighting. Many calcareous algae’s have different lighting requirements and spectrums. Some are high light, some are low light. I have seen Red Sea lights grow coraline like nobody’s business, but I have issues with them and SPS.
But those Kessels are basically not enough light for most photosynthetic organisms on that tank. They are made for small >10g tanks. But you have to look at the bright side, I am sure you don't have to clean your glass often.
If you want Coraline then you will have to up your nutrient level and your lighting. But before Coraline will grow you will have a host of other things like GHA take root before.

 

[Tomb85]

I can't seem to grow or maintain new Coraline algae. I have a 75 gallon Fowler tank. 20gal sump . I have 35 pounds of gulf live rock. That had beautiful purples and oranges and reds Coraline algae. But now it is looking kind of dull and brownish. I just added 40 pounds of dry rock that I want to seed with new Coraline. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Here are my water parameters. My tank is 1-year-old.
If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I'm looking to make this a beautiful tank. Thank you

NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2=0
NO3=0
DKH=9.6
CALCIUM =441
PH=8.0
PO4=1.0
Water temp = 79deg

Hi, you will be recycling the tank again in a way due to adding new dry rock. I wouldn't worry about coraline algea at the moment as you want to get your nitrate up and do the ugly stage again. Whilst that's happing save for new lights and then go from there.

 

[slingfox]

I have 3 black spine urchins that were hitchhikers on the live rock. I'm using API test kit. Isn't NO3 Nitrate.

If you three urchins in that size of a tank you can't expect to grow any coraline long run.