coraline algae help growing, etc..

[Celbrise]

so i bought what i believe is coraline algae encrusted rock the problem is i dont know if it really is coraline algae. i got it from petco but the problem is i think that its just a rock that has been painted because it has specs of white rocks and i read somewhere that other algae don't grow on coraline algae yet this rock is cover in diatoms and also i believe some green algae thats hard to scrape off.

the rock itself is smooth in feel can anyone tell if this is actually coraline algae? i mean it literally looks like a poorly painted rock. also if it is coraline algae how do i grow it? im currently fixing my parameters right now waiting for my nitrates to get low but other then parameters is there anything else i should be doing to spread it? also does high nitrates affect coralline algae or is it okay to grow it's at about 80-160ppm been trying to detoxify it and did a 50% water change and will do another on sunday, added more beneficial bacteria, protein skimmer, more rocks, etc.. how would i tell if it is dead or not i mean i did have bad parameters for a long time.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

anything else i should be doing to spread it

it spreads its self.
algae grows where it wants to. IME where you have high nutrients.
need pic to id rock.
IMO IME dip the rock in 5 water to 1 hydrogen peroxide. for 5 min. rinse in RO, distilled or its also a good way to use up old tank water. (recycle) Theres worse stuff at petco you should worry about. It will help get rid of the nuisance algae, the corraline will be ok.
also confused by the last bit. things went bad when you got the rock?

 

[Celbrise]

i don't usually shop at petco for live things like fish only general supplies and no the rock didn't screw up my parameters i meant that my parameters were screwed up so i didn't know if that could have killed off the coraline algae or what to not allow it to spread anymore. what is IME?

 

[twilliard]

When coraline dies it turns white in color.

 

[twilliard]

IME is "in my experience"

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I did have a bad rock once. Just beautiful too. And spendy

 

[Celbrise]

oh okay i just cleaned my tank it's covered int diatoms and hard green algae but i will take a pic of the rock and show you it's kind of hard to see though i put it on the very bottom of the stack thats why and the splotchy white side is facing up. i mean it really looks like it was painted but as someone who worked with paint before it doesn't feel like that it feels very smooth

 

[martini5788]

Nope I have one of those too. It's called real reef rock and is man made and painted to appear like coralline.

 

[Celbrise]

idk I will have to take a pic because I mean I saw real reef rock at the salt water store here out of a tank looks about the same but they are not charging people and arm and a leg for them. where as Petco charged me $60-70 just for a fist sized rock probably weighing 1 pound. the one at the other store is much bigger and cheaper where as everything else is very expensive and over priced. other then that though yea I wouldn't doubt it really looks unnatural to be coralline

 

[Reefrookie220]

You actually paid 70 bucks for it?

 

[Robertchrisroph]

Hello @Celbrise good to read. Um I would take that back to, is it Petco? Should maybe cost 7 to 8 dollars at most a pound. They overcharged you. Man made is better and lighter so you get more for your money. Good luck. ( water movement. ) helps in coraline too.

 

[martini5788]

Yeah I would return it

 

[Celbrise]

yea I got it for like $60 plus tax so around $70. it was maybe about a year ago I thought it was coralline algae and it really wasn't labeled anything besides "live rock" I thought i'd buy it and spread the coralline algae but after a while I suspected it was just paint

 

[Tru REEF]

I have over 40lbs or Caribsea real reef rock and it's no way u should have paid that much for a pound. Yea u should take it back and give the cashier the finger. Sorry!

 

[Celbrise]

lol yea it's been a long time since i bought it though so i doubt they still work their. it's the little purple like one under the white rock. not sure why the picture is so dark everything else is basically covered in diatoms

 

[Robertchrisroph]

I wish it would stop growing. Lmbo

 

[Celbrise]

lol send some my way i am planning to buy some real coraline algae form a company here but they only ship they dont have an instore shop and im not sure how long it can last as i will be away for work before it even gets here i believe so i didn't purchase it yet.

 

[martini5788]

What is your calcium at?

 

[Celbrise]

i don't know i haven't tested calcium on;y ph, nitrate nitrite and ammonia

 

[martini5788]

Calcium and alk will affect coralline growth. Coralline will grow like crazy and become a nuisance when the tank is kept at reef parameters. Just a tip