Coraline algae growth ?

[427HISS]

Hello, back in the 90's when I had several tanks, I never really got a lot of coralline algae growth. I'm now wanting to start up the hobby again, so how do I get the coralline to grow better ?

It's strange to me, that all of the tank parameter's were good, but I don't recall what they were now, (just trust me) too long ago. I mixed my own calcium chloride but all other additives were store bought. My corals grew very well and fairly quickly. A local fish store did not test their water as much as I did, and I think they just relied on the salt mix and not much in additives, but their reef tank was caked,..... with coralline, so I was jealous. lol

It not only pretty with all they colors, but also keeps filament algae down, I did not have much to speak of) The only problem I had was the **** Aiptasia Anemones !

What do you guys that have a high amount do ?

 

[mike007]

If you keep all you water parameter in range with good lighting you should have no problems growing coraline algae. calcium is probaly the most important element it should be somewhere between 450-500 ppm. Some people have used purple up with good results.

 

[427HISS]

What is "Purple Up", a calcium additive ?

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Might want to start with a bit of live rock or rubble that has some live coralline algae growing on it.

You'll have pink, purple and red walls before you know it!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Calcium- 380-460
Alk- 8-12 lower ranges better
Magnesium- 1250-1350
And you must have very low Phosphates, these compete with Coralline, the lower your Phosphates, the better the growth.


Purple Up

 

[mike007]

+ 1 on the suggestions above. Purpleup does have calcium and coraline spores that will help start the algae. You must moniter your calcium when using.

 

[ReefMonkey13]

You will have to find a source for coraline.

In my old 75G I had a similar issue where I used primary dry rock. I had the tank running of over 6 months with good parameters but no sign of coraline. I added a piece of live rock covered in coraline from a friend, within the next few months the rest of my other rocks grew it and the back glass had a fair amount of it too.

I have never personally used purple up but some have reported coraline growth with its addition.

Good Luck

 

[NanaReefer]

You could also have another reefer or your LFS scrape some coralline off their tank walls and give you a bag full. Works great without the additives


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[creefer]

^^^^This is key^^^^

 

[The_Stig]

Coralline also grows better with weaker lighting and lower flow, IME. And it will have no effect on fillament algae, the algae will grow right over the top of it no problem.

Personally, I cant stand the stuff. I tried everything in my power to keep it out of my systems. Sure it ooks pretty on the rocks but its a PITA to scrape off of the glass, clogs powerheads/skimmers/filters, etc. If I could find a sure fire way to rid my systems of it I would in a heartbeat.

 

[427HISS]

Weaker lighting, never heard that before. In the natural reefs and atolls, is their much coralline near the surface of the water, or is the sun too bright ?
Years ago, a lot of the published readings and from fellow reef keepers said that filament type algae has a difficult time of attaching to coralline, so that's not true ?

 

[The_Stig]

I've just noticed that in my reef tanks, it tends to grow a lot more in the shaded areas while my fo tanks will have it covering everything.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Now I may get this wrong, but, it grows more pink in the shaded areas, and more purple in the high light areas. Or, I got em mixed up and its backwards. But, thats usually how that main color runs.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

I have coralline from pale pink to purple and red. I've assumed the differences show that they are different varieties or species.

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[TrishW]

There is also a green coralline algae. I abhor it.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Indeed there is. I've only seen it in one of my brackish opae ula tanks. It has spread between two chunks of live rock.

It's no where near as attractive as the other color forms, but I'm sure it serves some sort of purpose. Either way, it's certainly better than hair algae or cyanobacteria.

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[427HISS]

I'll be danged, as I never thought the color & maybe type, of coralline would determined by lighting. It is a algae though. And I guess it's possible that coralline does not take to a lot of flow. I did have quite the powerful water flow in my reef. I also noticed that when a powerhead was directly hitting the side glass, green algae would grow, and once I moved it, it would stop.

 

[The_Stig]

I have seen it in the purple/pinks, red, green, yellow, and blue.

 

[mcarroll]

Coralline also grows better with weaker lighting and lower flow, IME. And it will have no effect on fillament algae, the algae will grow right over the top of it no problem.

Personally, I cant stand the stuff. I tried everything in my power to keep it out of my systems. Sure it ooks pretty on the rocks but its a PITA to scrape off of the glass, clogs powerheads/skimmers/filters, etc. If I could find a sure fire way to rid my systems of it I would in a heartbeat.

+1 on every point (esp. Re green algae) and sentiment!

-Matt

 

[Dtech07]

What is "Purple Up", a calcium additive ?

a safer and more balanced way is to follow the direction as given for the parameter for your tank but look to the LFS or fellow reefers and ask for a piece of Coraline or a rubble rock with a good amount on it. Take it home in tank water then scrap and grind as much off in front of your power head as fine as you can,this will seed your tank with a mature culture of Coraline and will not require you to add additional additives to balanced tank.