Coralline algae help

[Mandrew]

I have a heater from a previous tank that has been dry for about a week. As I was cleaning it today I noticed a few spots of coralline that had started to grow on it. If I scrape them off and put them in my new tank can they still produce new algae even though they have dried out?

 

[zachxlutz]

My anecdotal answer is no. Anything with dried coralline algae I've ever placed back in water has just bleached and flaked off.

 

[Mandrew]

That's a bummer. I was hoping to start seeding the tank early! Lol

 

[zachxlutz]

You'll get there before you know it!

I started with old rock that had dried out and was re-cured and within a few months of adding the first frags with just a touch of coralline on them I had purple, red and pink coralline growing everywhere. Just be patient, you'll get there.

 

[Mandrew]

I've never had much luck with it other than when I started with live rock. Ever since I started using dry rock I've not had much if any grow in my tanks. I just tore down a 20g I had up for almost a year and after the tear down notices some tiny spots of it starting to grow.

 

[zachxlutz]

I've noticed mine seemed to grow faster while my magnesium was 1500+ for a while. Sort of stagnated now that I'm closer to 1400.

 

[Mandrew]

You ever tried purple up or anything like that?

 

[zachxlutz]

You ever tried purple up or anything like that?

I dose 2-part through my RKE, dose daily with Red Sea coral colors and do water changes monthly so I don't find it necessary to dose any other supplements. All the elements that Purple Up returns back to the tank, I'm already dosing for or replenishing through diligent water changes.

 

[Mandrew]

Oh pkay