Coralline algae in a bottle ?!

[frizzayyyyreef]

Does this stuff work ? Almost a year and a half and I have none just regular nasty algae….if I add this won’t they compete ? And kill of the green algae if it works ?

 

[wculver]

Does this stuff work ? Almost a year and a half and I have none just regular nasty algae….if I add this won’t they compete ? And kill of the green algae if it works ?

You really have to get the algae under control for the coraline algae to really take off. You'll need to get the Nitrates and Phosphates under control and use a quality test kit to see where you are.

That said, the coraline in a bottle does work well. Instead of buying expensive live rock in a store I actually suggest just buying whatever rock works for your scape and then using this stuff to get the coraline going. Just keep in mind that the coraline is not going to volunteer in all conditions, you have to give them the right parameters and keep them stable. The coraline spores will then make a stab at growing when the time is right.

 

[AydenLincoln]

It also spikes nutrients to make the coralline grow. If you get a small piece of rock or a coral frag that has coralline on it and you seed it in by scraping it off I think it might be better.

 

[mdb_talon]

If your tank is covered with "nasty algae) then this has little chance of doing well. Once it is established it is good at preventing other algaes from growing. It is not going to cure an existing issue though. Also conditions that lead to nasty algae issues are usually not conducive to coralline growth

 

[mdb_talon]

It also spikes nutrients to make the coralline grow. If you get a small piece of rock or a coral frag that has coralline on it and you seed it in by scraping it off I think it might be better.

It should not be spiking what we generally consider nutrients(phosphate/nitrates). Both of those are not usually the limiting factor for coralline and usually actually just make it harder for it to grow.

 

[AydenLincoln]

It should not be spiking what we generally consider nutrients(phosphate/nitrates). Both of those are not usually the limiting factor for coralline and usually actually just make it harder for it to grow.

I heard it raises them which is why I don’t want to add it. One of the main ingredients is calcium etc. not all of them contain coralline spores so that’s how it work it raises levels allowing it to grow faster. And I’m thinking of PurpleUp specifically. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coralline-algae-in-a-bottle-does-it-work.529759/

 

[mdb_talon]

I heard it raises them which is why I don’t want to add it. One of the main ingredients is calcium etc. not all of them contain coralline spores so that’s how it work it raises levels allowing it to grow faster. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coralline-algae-in-a-bottle-does-it-work.529759/

Yes calcium would be a main ingredient. Thats not necessarily a bad thing and not generally referred to as a "nutrient" in the hobby.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Yes calcium would be a main ingredient. Thats not necessarily a bad thing and not generally referred to as a "nutrient" in the hobby.

I mean not necessarily but you don’t want to spike already high levels. Look at the ingredients in PurpleUp which is what I’m thinking of. So to answer the OP’s question coralline in a bottle is the shortcut and may lead to more issues in an already algae ridden tank.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

It also spikes nutrients to make the coralline grow. If you get a small piece of rock or a coral frag that has coralline on it and you seed it in by scraping it off I think it might be better.

I tried that I even had a hermit crab have it on his shell…the tanks about a year old I have a few spots but mostly just the nasty type

 

[AydenLincoln]

I tried that I even had a hermit crab have it on his shell…the tanks about a year old I have a few spots but mostly just the nasty type

Do you have snails or any other algae eating fish like tangs? What size is your tank?

 

[mdb_talon]

I mean not necessarily but you don’t want to spike already high levels. Look at the ingredients in PurpleUp which is what I’m thinking of. So to answer the OP’s question coralline in a bottle is the shortcut and may lead to more issues in an already algae ridden tank. I consider the big ones to be nutrients not all are bad but they shouldn’t spike eitner.

Purple up is not bottled coralline. It is advertised as a "coralline accelerator". Bottled coralline is different. In any case neither contains "nutrients"; they contain major elements required in a tank....though i do agree it can be harmful to dose too much if not needed. It is not because it makes any standard algae issue worse though. The vast majority of algae primarily use nutrients....phosphates/nitrates....not the same things calcium based algae like coralline uses.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Purple up is not bottled coralline. It is advertised as a "coralline accelerator". Bottled coralline is different. In any case neither contains "nutrients"; they contain major elements required in a tank....though i do agree it can be harmful to dose too much if not needed. It is not because it makes any standard algae issue worse though. The vast majority of algae primarily use nutrients....phosphates/nitrates....not the same things calcium based algae like coralline uses.

Okay well that’s what I was referring to lol. It was a misunderstanding. I know some do it contains the spores.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I heard it raises them which is why I don’t want to add it. One of the main ingredients is calcium etc. not all of them contain coralline spores so that’s how it work it raises levels allowing it to grow faster. And I’m thinking of PurpleUp specifically. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coralline-algae-in-a-bottle-does-it-work.529759/

Purple up does nothing but skyrocket calclum if nothing is consuming it.

Buy the Arc Reef stuff, it does work. Your tank still needs to be ready parameter wise for it. As everyone else says, it takes time. Finally was getting pink & purple coralline growth after over a year and I started out my 120g with 80 pounds of dry, 20 from a previous tank and about 15 pounds of wet and established rock for a few decades.