Corraline Algae

[ReefinND]

Hello! So my tank is about 11 months old or so and I've noticed that I have literally no corraline algae on any of my rocks....but there's an explosion of it on my glass.

I've heard that an urchin will consume it and I have two of them. Is that probably what's happening here? I never see them on the glass, which would explain that part.....

If so, now what to do with them....

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Visible corraline alge on the rocks is not a need. It's present in the system and that's a good thing.

Many types of corraline also don't do well under higher light and it's possible that's actually the issue.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Yes, some urchins will eat coralline. As @saltyfilmfolks said, it's probably either high lighting or low alkalinity that are limiting the coralline growth.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes, some urchins will eat coralline. As @saltyfilmfolks said, it's probably either high lighting or low alkalinity that are limiting the coralline growth.

A bit of my own experience, under lower light and and actual NSW, I had excellent coralline growth.
The alk is about 7 before adding it to the tank.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Awesome! I managed to create some dieback on my coralline population with Reef Crystals. LOL

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Mine comes and goes as well, even with consistent tank parameters. Seems like I have just about every color in my tank too, naturally the brown and green colors do the best ;Shifty

My black shortspine urchin eats it like candy and will spend days in a thick patch of coralline eating it off the rocks.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Mine comes and goes as well, even with consistent tank parameters. Seems like I have just about every color in my tank too, naturally the brown and green colors do the best ;Shifty

My black shortspine urchin eats it like candy and will spend days in a thick patch of coralline eating it off the rocks.

The green coralline in my tank seems to prefer lower light areas...do you observe the same?

I have pink, peach, green, light purple, dark purple, and maroon coralline in my tank.

 

[ReefinND]

Thanks everyone! I occasionally get a little pink spot on the rocks, have also seen lime green and sometimes brown too. I started with dry rock and it's taken on gray stone coloring almost, which I'm ok with. With the two urchins, they seem to just mow through everything. The stuff all over on the glass is pink.

I have a tuxedo and a pincushion, I like them....but also dislike them lol. Mostly because they decide to rearrange where my frags are and scoot around with on on their head most of the time; which can be entertaining until I remember I'm the one that has to put it back, while getting viciously attacked by my female clown "Orca".

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Thanks everyone! I occasionally get a little pink spot on the rocks, have also seen lime green and sometimes brown too. I started with dry rock and it's taken on gray stone coloring almost, which I'm ok with. With the two urchins, they seem to just mow through everything. The stuff all over on the glass is pink.

I have a tuxedo and a pincushion, I like them....but also dislike them lol. Mostly because they decide to rearrange where my frags are and scoot around with on on their head most of the time; which can be entertaining until I remember I'm the one that has to put it back, while getting vivaciously attacked by my female clown "Orca".

Reefing is not for wimps!

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

The green coralline in my tank seems to prefer lower light areas...do you observe the same?

I have pink, peach, green, light purple, dark purple, and maroon coralline in my tank.

Mine likes the slopes of the rock where it doesn't receive direct lighting, sort of like how moss grows on the north side of trees.

 

[ReefinND]

Reefing is not for wimps!

Who'd have thunk that something as innocent and clumsy as that; can turn into a blood thirsty, freckle chomping monster at a moments notice! ;Blackeye;Dead