Coraline algae in a brute can ?

[Jrh31280]

Hey everyone got a quick question I’m precycling my rock in a brute trashcan I’m wondering if I can add my Coralline algae purple and pink helix during this? Will it grow in the can before I put it in the tank?

 

[WIReefer]

I would say if you have proper water parameters good lightning and time with stable conditions it will grow but usually takes time to grow I’ve never used the stuff in bottles so I can’t say to much.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Why buy bottled stuff when it comes free??

 

[tehmadreefer]

And, no it won’t grow in there unless your have proper lighting and parameters in your trash can.

 

[Jrh31280]

Why buy bottled stuff when it comes free??

Because I have brand new pest free build. I want everything clean going in this tank

 

[slojim]

it might, but it might preferentially grow on a side of the rock you'll end up orienting in a different way in your tank - so you might not get the affect you are after. Personally, I'd wait.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Because I have brand new pest free build. I want everything clean going in this tank

wont happen, but good luck on that!

 

[Jrh31280]

wont happen, but good luck on that!

Thanks for the help

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Best bet, cycle the rock in a brute trash can with saltwater for 3+ months. When you are ready to add rock to tank then add 'coraline in a bottle'. Without proper lights coraline will not grow in the trash cans. If you add light to the trash can then you will get massive algae breakout.

 

[ReefLab]

I'd just add it since you already have it and that stuff has a shelf life.
you need to light the tank to keep it alive, though.

 

[TriggerFinger]

There hasn’t been great reports about coraline in a bottle. If it doesn’t work in the brute, don’t worry. It may not work in the tank either. You will get coraline from snail and crab shells and from frags...it comes in time whether you want it or not.

 

[waterskiguy]

There hasn’t been great reports about coraline in a bottle. If it doesn’t work in the brute, don’t worry. It may not work in the tank either. You will get coraline from snail and crab shells and from frags...it comes in time whether you want it or not.

Agreed. The best way to get coralline is to seed it with a couple snail or crab shells that are covered with it. Scrape some off of the shells a few different times, in the beginning, and it will take off when your tank is ready.

You could do the same in your trash can, if you want to recreate the conditions of your tank. You'd have to plan out your aquascape and reproduce it in the can to be able to grow it in places that you'll even be able to see in your tank.

 

[shadesatsetbreak]

If you add light to the trash can then you will get massive algae breakout.

Unless you're one of those people who adds light and doesn't get a massive algae outbreak...

Why would you get an algae outbreak in a trash can but not a tank?

 

[kyleinpdx]

Because I have brand new pest free build. I want everything clean going in this tank

I see you only have 6 posts here, I dont know your level of reefing knowledge, so I'm going to assume you are newer at this. With that said: Set your expectations reasonably, this has been tried by many, and fulfilled by... none?

I'm not saying dont be careful or take precautions, but saying everything in your tank will be clean is akin to me saying I will win the lotto, its aspirational and nearly statistically impossible.

Practice good habits and you will be setup for success. Remember there is a difference between "dealing" with pests and "not having any."

I think personally we're going through the 3rd "enlightenment" as it pertains to reef keeping. (who knows, maybe the 4th?) 1. being the realization that reef tanks are possible and we dont have to just have FOWLR and a brown frag here and there. 2. being testing and automation, we can dial in things were unimaginable 15 years ago
3. being that ecosystem services matter or "it takes a village." Instead of never having pests, alot of the people "in the know" are moving more to the "pests are a natural part of the reef, and as long as everything is working as it should, they'll never take hold as predation and competition keep their numbers in check."

Good luck.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Unless you're one of those people who adds light and doesn't get a massive algae outbreak...

Why would you get an algae outbreak in a trash can but not a tank?

If you put uncured dry rock into a tank, then the outcome would be identical. The goal of pre-curing the rock in a dark environment is to help bacteria colonize the pores of the rock, that can help keep ammonia under control. Those same pores can be colonized by undesirable microorganisms if a light is added too quickly. Are you eliminating the algae stage by curing the rock before adding to the tank? No. Are you increasing your chances of creating an ugly stage that can be controlled with nutrient export measures and clean up crew? Yes. There is no wrong way of doing it, and dry rock is significantly more challenging then live rock.

 

[shadesatsetbreak]

If you put uncured dry rock into a tank, then the outcome would be identical. The goal of pre-curing the rock in a dark environment is to help bacteria colonize the pores of the rock, that can help keep ammonia under control. Those same pores can be colonized by undesirable microorganisms if a light is added too quickly. Are you eliminating the algae stage by curing the rock before adding to the tank? No. Are you increasing your chances of creating an ugly stage that can be controlled with nutrient export measures and clean up crew? Yes. There is no wrong way of doing it, and dry rock is significantly more challenging then live rock.

I've always cured under light without any issues because you can start loading coral after only a few days. Fish once the bio filter gets built up well. Algae fills the pores that bacteria colonize? I don't think I believe that part. The real benefits I see to using the brute trash can are that: it serves as an additional rinse cycle each time you water change, uses less water, and takes up less space. Also, if you are trying to cook some rock while your tank is being used or still being set up, it can save some time.
Lit or not lit is, in my experience, irrelevant, and specific to the goals of the aquarist.
With that said, I don't see a point in lighting your brute tank while cooking rock, if you're not adding coral. And for the OP, if you wanted to add coralline during the cook process a better option is a kids pool, because you can lay out the rock only 1 layer deep to maximize the coralline growing on it. Otherwise just wait until it is stable and in your tank.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I've always cured under light without any issues because you can start loading coral after only a few days. Fish once the bio filter gets built up well. Algae fills the pores that bacteria colonize? I don't think I believe that part. The real benefits I see to using the brute trash can are that: it serves as an additional rinse cycle each time you water change, uses less water, and takes up less space. Also, if you are trying to cook some rock while your tank is being used or still being set up, it can save some time.
Lit or not lit is, in my experience, irrelevant, and specific to the goals of the aquarist.
With that said, I don't see a point in lighting your brute tank while cooking rock, if you're not adding coral. And for the OP, if you wanted to add coralline during the cook process a better option is a kids pool, because you can lay out the rock only 1 layer deep to maximize the coralline growing on it. Otherwise just wait until it is stable and in your tank.

I don't know what kind of corals you are keeping through an ammonia spike. Never said algae fills the pores but undesirable microorganisms. This is not my opinion but has been documents much hundreds of people, you can easily find many of their posts throughout this forum.

 

[Jrh31280]

Best bet, cycle the rock in a brute trash can with saltwater for 3+ months. When you are ready to add rock to tank then add 'coraline in a bottle'. Without proper lights coraline will not grow in the trash cans. If you add light to the trash can then you will get massive algae breakout.

Thank you that sounds like

I see you only have 6 posts here, I dont know your level of reefing knowledge, so I'm going to assume you are newer at this. With that said: Set your expectations reasonably, this has been tried by many, and fulfilled by... none?

I'm not saying dont be careful or take precautions, but saying everything in your tank will be clean is akin to me saying I will win the lotto, its aspirational and nearly statistically impossible.

Practice good habits and you will be setup for success. Remember there is a difference between "dealing" with pests and "not having any."

I think personally we're going through the 3rd "enlightenment" as it pertains to reef keeping. (who knows, maybe the 4th?) 1. being the realization that reef tanks are possible and we dont have to just have FOWLR and a brown frag here and there. 2. being testing and automation, we can dial in things were unimaginable 15 years ago
3. being that ecosystem services matter or "it takes a village." Instead of never having pests, alot of the people "in the know" are moving more to the "pests are a natural part of the reef, and as long as everything is working as it should, they'll never take hold as predation and competition keep their numbers in check."

Good luck.

thanks I think that is the most intelligent thing I have heard about reefing

 

[kyleinpdx]

thanks I think that is the most intelligent thing I have heard about reefing

You are too kind you and I are lucky, we get to benefit from the successes and failures of thousands of other people. I remember back in the day, the only way you got a frag of anything was to "know someone." Man, the world has changed. Along with that, I think as a community we've learned a lot, there are a thousand ways to achieve a specific end, however some ways are qualitatively better than others.

Go back 5 yrs and everyone was preaching "no nitrates and no phosphates" was the way to go for growth and coloration, fast forward to today and now people are putting nitrates and phosphates back in their systems. If in 2015 someone asked what to dose to raise no3 and po4 they would have been committed to an insane asylum. What point am I trying to make? Take your time, go slowly, dont chase numbers (everything in life is a spectrum, reef tanks included, as long as you are within that spectrum you should be fine), don't try to cheat or outsmart mother nature and be accepting of and learn from your mistakes. Anyone who has been doing this a while will tell you they've messed up and killed something, messed up and introduced something they shouldn't have, tried something only to have it fail, etc. You'll begin to notice the subtleties and your tank will tell you everything you need to know about how to take care of it, if you know what to look for.

Good luck my (wo)man, there are a lot of amazingly smart people here, stick around long enough and you'll be a "tank of the day."