Coralline algae VOID??? Who really has an answer?

[Glenner’sreef]

So I’ve had 3 large reef tanks in the past 10 years. A 120g a 137g peninsula and finally and presently a 180g.
The first two tanks, NO problem! Coralline algae. My present day 180g reef is doing beautifully but after a year and three months not even a spot of coralline. I’ve occasionally tried the most popular products and an occasional snail or two covered in the coveted purple stuff. The science isn’t so much how to keep it spreading, but how to get it started. What say you?

 

[Susan Edwards]

I think mag plays a part. I know in my last tank I had plating coraline and was told mag over 1500 was responsible, that coralline likes magnesium. New tank, with some established rocks with corals is starting to get it but only on anything plastic like my gyres and the overflow. None on glass yet. Of which I'm grateful!!

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I think mag plays a part. I know in my last tank I had plating coraline and was told mag over 1500 was responsible, that coralline likes magnesium. New tank, with some established rocks with corals is starting to get it but only on anything plastic like my gyres and the overflow. None on glass yet. Of which I'm grateful!!

Thanks. Interesting. I hold steady at 1250-1280. Appreciate it.

 

[Trouble1375]

Thanks. Interesting. I hold steady at 1250-1280. Appreciate it.

My mag is consistent at 1500-1550 and after 3 years I only have tiny spots of Coralline. I have tried all the products that are supposed to produce, added snails with some on it, my LFS gave me some chunks of it. Still nothing but tiny dots. I would like to blame my love of urchins, I have 6 in my 125, but is that really feasible that they have kept it off every surface.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

My mag is consistent at 1500-1550 and after 3 years I only have tiny spots of Coralline. I have tried all the products that are supposed to produce, added snails with some on it, my LFS gave me some chunks of it. Still nothing but tiny dots. I would like to blame my love of urchins, I have 6 in my 125, but is that really feasible that they have kept it off every surface.

Hmmm? I sit and look at my seriously dramatic rock work across this 72” tank and wonder why it’s not working? Fyi. I do have one piece of my old live rock. It sports some cool “red” coralline. And it’s made it’s way to a few other pieces of non live rock. Must have purple!

 

[X-37B]

My big 3 run.
Alk 8
Ca 420
Mag 1350

I scrape coralline spots off the front glass daily.

I started with 50% live rock.

Be carefull what you wish for as I use an urchin to keep it mowed or it would be very thick.
Here is a pic before the urchin.
This is 6 months after startup.
I dose trace elements from day one which may have helped.

 

[EricR]

...
I scrape coralline spots off the front glass daily.
...
Be carefull what you wish for as I use an urchin to keep it mowed or it would be very thick.
...

You're lucky.
My urchin only "carves" the coralline off my rocks. (Wish he wouldn't).
Chews all over the glass but never seems to actually remove anything there.

 

[X-37B]

You're lucky.
My urchin only "carves" the coralline off my rocks. (Wish he wouldn't).
Chews all over the glass but never seems to actually remove anything there.

Mine keeps the back wall thinned out. The bottom in the pic has been picked clean. I had 2 urchins and now only 1 as 1 died after 2 years.

 

[jeffww]

My asterina stars eat a lot of coralline. If you have those they may prevent its spread.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I just read and posted this article (above). The one thing I took from it might very well be my lighting? I’ve recently switched out my lights from 3 Viparspectras to 4 Kessil a360x. We’ll see!

 

[X-37B]

I just read and posted this article (above). The one thing I took from it might very well be my lighting? I’ve recently switched out my lights from 3 Viparspectras to 4 Kessil a360x. We’ll see!

I doubt its light. I have run T5, led, Halides, all with lots of coraline growth.
I will go read the article now, lol.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

My asterina stars eat a lot of coralline. If you have those they may prevent its spread.

Thanks Jeff, I hadn’t heard that. I’ve got my share of them.

 

[X-37B]

Thanks Jeff, I hadn’t heard that. I’ve got my share of them.

Well I have had hundreds of them and they do eat it but I dont think they prevent it from growing.
I now have a pair of harliquin shrimp and asterina are hard to find now.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I doubt its light. I have run T5, led, Halides, all with lots of coraline growth.
I will go read the article now, lol.

In her first paragraph she mentions coralline algae “harnessing energy “ from the sun through photosynthesis. My guess was that the more affective Kessils might be a key to coralline algae growth.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Well I have had hundreds of them and they do eat it but I dont think they prevent it from growing.
I now have a pair of harliquin shrimp and asterina are hard to find now.

You may be onto something. I syphon out 30-40 each month during water changes.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

My big 3 run.
Alk 8
Ca 420
Mag 1350

I scrape coralline spots off the front glass daily.

I started with 50% live rock.

Be carefull what you wish for as I use an urchin to keep it mowed or it would be very thick.
Here is a pic before the urchin.
This is 6 months after startup.
I dose trace elements from day one which may have helped.

Wow crazy amount!!! I’m thinking of introducing 3-4 large coralline encrusted rocks into the tank. Between that and my new lights, I might be good. Thx for info.

 

[X-37B]

You may be onto something. I syphon out 30-40 each month during water changes.

Yea I got tired of trying to remove them. Seemed like the more I took out the more they multiplied.
I pull all of them out of my other systems when I see them and add to the 120.

 

[GARRIGA]

Added this little over a week ago and added a bottle of purple helix. Fingers crossed but I feel your pain. They don’t grow for me either. Have reduced the lighting. Seems that helps based on a video BRSTV stated they grow in lower light. I’ll have to check my mag but based on calcium doubt that’s low.

 

[EricR]

In her first paragraph she mentions coralline algae “harnessing energy “ from the sun through photosynthesis. My guess was that the more affective Kessils might be a key to coralline algae growth.

I have limited experience but doubt lighting also:
Coralline spread to my glass from live rock in my FOWLR tank when it was running only white light LED strips.