Coralline algae

Chris kindley · Mar 24, 2016

I have had tanks before and i have yet to be successful at getting any corraline algae growth. Is there a secret to this. I've used every popular product said to aide in the coralline algae growth, I've had my parameters perfect. What gives?

AQSstudent · Mar 24, 2016

IME, I've had great coralline growth using metal halide and LED bulbs (point source), and little coralline using T5/flourescent, although corals do great under either.

I also had a coralline explosion when my alkalinity (hanna checker) was above 9.5 and my calcium was above 560 (API), and since I dropped them back to lower levels the coralline hasn't taken off nearly as much.

One way I have read about, but not tried, is buying a small piece of live rock covered in coralline and scraping it with a razor blade into your tank, to get the coralline algae cells spread throughout your water column to "seed" your tank.

Chris kindley · Mar 24, 2016

I've heard that also. But haven't tried it. I currently have 2 16 inch 165 watt full spectrum leds. Curious to know if that's the issue. I had t5s before so that would explain that part of it.

joshkirkland83 · Mar 24, 2016

Chris kindley said:
I've heard that also. But haven't tried it. I currently have 2 16 inch 165 watt full spectrum leds. Curious to know if that's the issue. I had t5s before so that would explain that part of it.

High mag and buy a couple coraline covered rocks. Youll be in there.

Chris kindley · Mar 24, 2016

Just tested it. Mag. Is 1600 ppm

BossGT911 · Mar 24, 2016

scraping the purple of a rock should seed the coraline
and higher calcium

cb684 · Mar 24, 2016

I have a lot of coraline with 1280 Mg, T5, and Alk 7. Not sure why... You can checkout my tank tread.

Chris kindley · Mar 24, 2016

Calcium is about 290. What can I do, without a reactor, to bring that up

cb684 · Mar 24, 2016

Chris kindley said:
Calcium is about 290. What can I do, without a reactor, to bring that up

A couple of links with answers...
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/#1

Scottsquatch · Mar 24, 2016

On the bright side.....at least you don't have to try and scrape it off the front of your glass.

Reeflogic · Mar 24, 2016

You may also want to read this

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/

gacolt · Mar 24, 2016

If you want coralline algae use t5 or mh.t5's are the best imo.i can cover my front glass in 2weeks or less when lazy.flow also plays a part.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 25, 2016

LOL- Everyone trying to grow it and here I am scraping it off constantly

Cory · Mar 25, 2016

In my experience corraline wont grow until your corals grow. They dislike phosphate.

new2mac · Mar 26, 2016

My 3 year old sps tank (on my avatar) is doing fine, been under ATI T5 from the beginning. Still one thing bothered me for quite awhile - for some reason no coralline, just small patches on the rocks. Tried to seed from rocks, added purpleup - nothing. Now I am kind of glad with that, I don't had to scrub coralline algae from the glass (guess I am lazy

)
So look at the bight side and rather focus on corals wellbeing

Congaken · Apr 1, 2016

cb684 said:
I have a lot of coraline with 1280 Mg, T5, and Alk 7. Not sure why... You can checkout my tank tread.

Trying to grow it...ordered Purple Up...have a few spots...but need more for seed...would you sell/give me a small piece...really would appreciate it...Ken