Coralline algae growth??

[MoeAly]

My tank is about 6 months old and I'm starting to see purple and green patches "splattered" across my live rock. Can I assume this is coralline algae?? If so, is there anything I can do to increase/speed up this growth (outside of adding coralline from a bottle)? See attached picture.

Thanks!

 

[T-J]

Have you introduced something with coralline algae on it? That's the only way it's going to get in there. Coralline doesn't just form out of thin air.

 

[MoeAly]

I may have introduced something with Coralline unintentionally. I guess my question is, does this look like Coralline algae or is this something else? Is this how Coralline normally starts out?

Is it perhaps bacterial growth?

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Is it flat and smooth? It’s hard to tell from the photo, if so it is most likely coralline.

Do you have any snails in the tank? That’s probably the #1 way to introduce it. If you keep your parameters stable it should grow fairly quickly.

 

[Pistondog]

My tank is about 6 months old and I'm starting to see purple and green patches "splattered" across my live rock. Can I assume this is coralline algae?? If so, is there anything I can do to increase/speed up this growth (outside of adding coralline from a bottle)? See attached picture.

Thanks!

To accelerate, like any algae, provide nutrients and plenty of light.
Why not from a bottle?
$20 buys you spores and accelerated coverage. Money can buy time.

 

[MoeAly]

Is it flat and smooth? It’s hard to tell from the photo, if so it is most likely coralline.

Do you have any snails in the tank? That’s probably the #1 way to introduce it. If you keep your parameters stable it should grow fairly quickly.

I have about 13 snails in my tank. That may just be it!

Thank you!

 

[MoeAly]

To accelerate, like any algae, provide nutrients and plenty of light.
Why not from a bottle?
$20 buys you spores and accelerated coverage. Money can buy time.

I will most likely buy a few bottles to help accelerate the process. Thanks!

 

[Fink]

I will most likely buy a few bottles to help accelerate the process. Thanks!

My son wanted coralline in his tank so he snatched three of my snails that were covered in the stuff, and now he has a healthy amount in his tank after just a couple of months. I wish it didn't grow so fast on my powerheads....

 

[DivingTheWorld]

It will show up eventually, from snails or frags you add to the tank. Once it gets established, you’ll be scraping giant hunks off things and having to dip your powerheads every few months. Be careful what you wish for and no need to be in a hurry. When your tank is ready, it will start growing.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

If you have some snails with the coralline you can just scrap some off of their shells instead of buying the bottled stuff. It’s already in your tank, so no need to add more.

 

[Pistondog]

I will most likely buy a few bottles to help accelerate the process. Thanks!

1 bottle is enough for cover.
Arc sells 1 strain per bottle, pink and purple.

 

[92Miata]

Coraline is about the most stabilizing organism a reef can have. At 6 months your tank should be covered.

Buy a bottle. It's worth it.

 

[92Miata]

If you have some snails with the coralline you can just scrap some off of their shells instead of buying the bottled stuff. It’s already in your tank, so no need to add more.

You can, it just pushes your tank maturation back several months. $22 to push forward 3 or 4 months towards stability is about the best use of money possible in this hobby.

 

[MoeAly]

Thanks everyone!! Really appreciate the feedback and advice!

 

[dzfish17]

Not trying to be negative here but it doesn't look like coralline to me... Looks like dry rock that is just starting to get regular algae. Usually your rock will get a darker purple then you'll start to see coralline if added.

 

[Pistondog]

Not trying to be negative here but it doesn't look like coralline to me... Looks like dry rock that is just starting to get regular algae.

A better reason to buy a bottle.

 

[Squidward]

My tank is a a year old now and I barely have any. I may have to buy some bottles too.

 

[swiss1939]

Two month old tank.. Started seeing it the fourth week.. Two weeks after adding bottle of spores and a small piece of LR. They look really small specks that start to get bigger slowly at first. This is what it looks like on dry rock covered in green algae after another month from first time seeing the specks.

Hard edged specks. Yours looks too fuzzy, but it could just be blurry photos.

Btw, i also got some chunks from lfs they just pulled off their grow tank walls and i left them on the sand without breaking them up. Turns out hermits eat that stuff! And while they are eating it, they are breaking up the sheets into smaller pieces, spreading the spores further.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

Coraline algae is needs calcium and other trace elements to grow. Doesn't eat anything, so just dose trace elements.

 

[Cambrian Reef]

rough crowd

Have you introduced something with coralline algae on it? That's the only way it's going to get in there. Coralline doesn't just form out of thin air.

Rough Crowd