Coraline algae

[Ksturg]

would anyone be willing to send some coraline algae scrapings? My lfs won't sell me any and It's the only store within 50 miles. Even the stores outside that range are stingy with the scrapings. They only want to sell me big pieces of live rock. I would be more than willing to pay shipping.

 

[Brew12]

would anyone be willing to send some coraline algae scrapings? My lfs won't sell me any and It's the only store within 50 miles. Even the stores outside that range are stingy with the scrapings. They only want to sell me big pieces of live rock. I would be more than willing to pay shipping.

I've been told that you can't keep coralline algae from getting in your tank and that you will likely get it with your first coral order.

I haven't found that to be the case. I do have what looks like a green coralline algae, but no purple. I'm going to buy a piece of live rock from my LFS just to get the purple coralline algae.

 

[CodyRVA]

would anyone be willing to send some coraline algae scrapings? My lfs won't sell me any and It's the only store within 50 miles. Even the stores outside that range are stingy with the scrapings. They only want to sell me big pieces of live rock. I would be more than willing to pay shipping.

Are there any local reefers you could get some from? You could buy a very small piece of rock from a friend or LFS and scrape the coralline into your tank vs introducing a piece of live rock that may contain pests. What about buying a small frag of something inexpensive that has coralline on the plug? Even buying some inverts like snails or hermits with coralline on their shells would work...

Pretty sure overnight shipping would cost you more than a piece of live rock.

 

[Ksturg]

I have only found 2 people in my area that have salt tanks and they are jerks. I'm not ready for corals yet I need to mature the tank more. I've never found it to be this hard to get some algae! It's like it's a protected species here.

 

[CodyRVA]

I have only found 2 people in my area that have salt tanks and they are ********. I'm not ready for corals yet I need to mature the tank more. I've never found it to be this hard to get some algae! It's like it's a protected species here.

Why not try and buy some inverts then? If there's a LFS there has to be more than a few systems in the area. I would put a post up on craigslist or any local forum.

Keep in mind your chemistry needs to be on point for coralline to grow. So, you could add a bunch of scrapings and see nothing for months.

 

[sureal00]

I've noticed that many margarita snails have corraline algae on there shells.Maybe you can buy some of those and scrape of their shells.

 

[Ksturg]

Well I guess I will have to see what people have not many stores around here that deal in salt water....My water chemistry I think is where it needs to be I have 2 small spots of brown algae.

 

[ahiggins]

Will the LFS sell you rubble?
Small pieces like a 1-3" long, usually no one wants them and they go for cheap.

 

[RamsReef]

I got mine from snails.

I've been told that you can't keep coralline algae from getting in your tank and that you will likely get it with your first coral order.

I haven't found that to be the case. I do have what looks like a green coralline algae, but no purple. I'm going to buy a piece of live rock from my LFS just to get the purple coralline algae.

It starts green turns purple.

 

[Ksturg]

No my lfs won't sell me anything cause he doesn't deal in saltwater it's his personal tank he just has set up in the store. It's really frustrating!

 

[CodyRVA]

No my lfs won't sell me anything cause he doesn't deal in saltwater it's his personal tank he just has set up in the store. It's really frustrating!

Find some local reefers, make a day trip somewhere to a real LFS, or order something online.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Well I guess I will have to see what people have not many stores around here that deal in salt water....My water chemistry I think is where it needs to be I have 2 small spots of brown algae.

Brown algae and coralline have two very different requirements. Coralline is a calcareous algae that require conditions similar to that of what corals need, other soft algae can grow in just about any water. I have a total brown thumb when it comes to coralline. My tank has been up for almost a year and not a spot of it is growing anywhere despite the addition of scrapings and it being on some of my rock/snails. Turns out my tank has been running with low PH (pretty vital for coral/coralline growth). How long has your tank been up and running?

 

[themcnertney]

Here's my take on coralline algae, I don't like it.
Coralline algae doesn't need to exist to have a healthy tank. It takes over and is very difficult to keep clean on glass and plastic. It can be a nightmare for power heads.

 

[Ksturg]

I love the look of the purple coraline algae and don't mind cleaning it at all. I did make a trip tonight to get 2 fish and managed to swindle out a very small piece of rock with the algae on it. My tank has been up and running for 2 months now.

 

[tutmatt3]

Good luck! Have you had any diatoms or other algae blooms?
I had a few Brown spots, and a week later final have full diatoms.

Also keep an eye on your ph/calcium/alkalinity as those area necessary for Coraline I've read/heard

 

[pugcrush]

Get red banded trochus snails (usually carry a ton) & a piece of coraline infested live rock. I just set up a tank the week before Christmas. Stuff is growing on the glass already.

 

[Ksturg]

This is the piece I picked up hopefully it does the job.

 

[WhiskeyCoffee]

Someone wise once said... Be careful what you wish for.

^_^

 

[scottedontknow]

Buy some snails and boom. You will have tons of coraline in no time!

 

[Tori]

Indo Pacific Sea Farms sells a Coraline Algae kit.
http://www.ipsf.com/corallinebooster.html

Personally, I wouldn't pay for it because it will come eventually anyway.