How to grow Coralline algae

[Emma_fish]

So I’ve just started cycling a new 43 Gallon reef I used the rock from my old tank and I will add some colony bacteria so I don’t think it should take too long
I had my last tank up for a year and 5 months but I never had any coralline algae growth so I’m just wondering what is the best way to add it to my tank and when in the process?
I have one piece of caribsea rock that is red/purple but it was dry rock

I have a Maxspect jump light and I am hoping to add live copepods and some phytoplankton to keep them going once the cycle is complete also if that makes any difference

 

[Reeferjunkie]

See if you can get a local reefer to scape you some and seed your tank with it or a possible snail or shell with it on it would work Also

 

[Dburr1014]

So I’ve just started cycling a new 43 Gallon reef I used the rock from my old tank and I will add some colony bacteria so I don’t think it should take too long
I had my last tank up for a year and 5 months but I never had any coralline algae growth so I’m just wondering what is the best way to add it to my tank and when in the process?
I have one piece of caribsea rock that is red/purple but it was dry rock

I have a Maxspect jump light and I am hoping to add live copepods and some phytoplankton to keep them going once the cycle is complete also if that makes any difference

If you are using rock from your old system, you won't have a cycle. No need for bac in a bottle.
To get it to grow you will need some to start with. Any friends with a tank? Maybe buy a rock with some coraline on it.

 

[Emma_fish]

If you are using rock from your old system, you won't have a cycle. No need for bac in a bottle.
To get it to grow you will need some to start with. Any friends with a tank? Maybe buy a rock with some coraline on it.

I won’t have a cycle ? How do I know when it is safe to add fish then ?

 

[Dburr1014]

No, if the rock went from one tank to the other, no cycle. Why would it? If it stayed wet, under water. It's like doing a water change.
Test ammonia and nitrite, most likely 0.

 

[T-J]

Like others have said, get something (frag, rock, shells, etc.) that has coralline on it. If your tank parameters are right, it will soon cover everything you don't scrape regularly.
FYI, coralline needs alk around 8 and calc at 420. It usually will start in the lower light areas of your tank, but I have coralline covered rocks getting 400+ PAR.
Patience. Like everything else in this hobby.

 

[Bribo12]

Like others have said just introduce some. It could be on a frag plug, a snail or hermit shell, or scrapings and then just give it time. Started my tank 100% live rock and now have lots of coralline that came from snails and frags. Consistent parameters and it will eventually grow

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

If you Didn't have Coraline growth in your tank that was a year and 5 months old, there was probably an issue with your parameters.

I hardly grow any due to heavy phos. Low alk will also not provide what is needed for growth.

Get the parameters of your tank in line to grow it and stable, then seed it if you are in a rush.

 

[Emma_fish]

No, if the rock went from one tank to the other, no cycle. Why would it? If it stayed wet, under water. It's like doing a water change.
Test ammonia and nitrite, most likely 0.

So if they are still both 0 next Saturday can I add fish ?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

So I’ve just started cycling a new 43 Gallon reef I used the rock from my old tank and I will add some colony bacteria so I don’t think it should take too long
I had my last tank up for a year and 5 months but I never had any coralline algae growth so I’m just wondering what is the best way to add it to my tank and when in the process?
I have one piece of caribsea rock that is red/purple but it was dry rock

I have a Maxspect jump light and I am hoping to add live copepods and some phytoplankton to keep them going once the cycle is complete also if that makes any difference

Have you looked into live multispecies coralline in a bottle?

Coralline Algae

Coralline Algae in a Bottle excelerates growth of colorful coralline algal crusts over your live rock. Choose between pinks with Pink Fusion®, purples with Purple Helix®, or get 2 bottles, one of each, with Pink and Purple! Unlike coralline "accelerators," Coralline Algae in a Bottle is a live...

www.algaebarn.com

 

[Morpheosz]

Have you looked into live multispecies coralline in a bottle?

Coralline Algae

Coralline Algae in a Bottle excelerates growth of colorful coralline algal crusts over your live rock. Choose between pinks with Pink Fusion®, purples with Purple Helix®, or get 2 bottles, one of each, with Pink and Purple! Unlike coralline "accelerators," Coralline Algae in a Bottle is a live...

www.algaebarn.com

I put a bottle of pink and bottle of purple in my new 75 that I started with dry rock and 2 pieces of live rock from my old tank to seed the ecosystem. 6 weeks later, all of the upper 20% of rocks are 75-100% covered and the rest of the tank is heavily spotted. Also the bottom of my fuge is about 50% covered. I never had much success in my previous nano but this one is taking off with this bottled stuff. My alk is 8.0, calcium 450, and ph has been all over as I’ve worked to get it up to 8.2ish, but it spent many of those early weeks in the 7.8-7.9 range.

 

[Morpheosz]

Somehow I double posted so editing this one as I can’t find a delete option!

 

[Chrisv.]

Have you looked into live multispecies coralline in a bottle?

Coralline Algae

Coralline Algae in a Bottle excelerates growth of colorful coralline algal crusts over your live rock. Choose between pinks with Pink Fusion®, purples with Purple Helix®, or get 2 bottles, one of each, with Pink and Purple! Unlike coralline "accelerators," Coralline Algae in a Bottle is a live...

www.algaebarn.com

I really had great results with this product.

 

[Emma_fish]

No, if the rock went from one tank to the other, no cycle. Why would it? If it stayed wet, under water. It's like doing a water change.
Test ammonia and nitrite, most likely 0.

So if ammonia is 0, can I add fish ?

I put a bottle of pink and bottle of purple in my new 75 that I started with dry rock and 2 pieces of live rock from my old tank to seed the ecosystem. 6 weeks later, all of the upper 20% of rocks are 75-100% covered and the rest of the tank is heavily spotted. Also the bottom of my fuge is about 50% covered. I never had much success in my previous nano but this one is taking off with this bottled stuff. My alk is 8.0, calcium 450, and ph has been all over as I’ve worked to get it up to 8.2ish, but it spent many of those early weeks in the 7.8-7.9 range.

no I haven’t, I will have a look
thanks !

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

High light.
High flow
Alk
Cal
Done
Lol

+1 yes you can seed your tank with some.scrapings. the coralline will turn to pink purple mush and u can add it to your tank.
D

 

[Foggy Pirate]

I have a small tank and when I got my coral frags they had no corine so a few months later I asked next time I was in there to scrap some
Off the wall into a bag… I than went home and dropped the peices in. I thought it didn’t work cause it took another few months but all of a sudden bam tons of small spots on my back wall. Starting to get big

 

[T-J]

It may take a little bit for your tank to stabilize, but once it does, your coralline should take off. It's also a great indicator that you can start trying some SPS in the system. Here's two pics showing 5 months difference in coralline growth.

May, 2021

October, 2021

 

[GrizFyrFyter]

I won’t have a cycle ? How do I know when it is safe to add fish then ?

If you had sand in your old system and aren't using it in your new system, you will in fact have a cycle. It won't take as long but the sand provides arguably more surface area for bacteria than the rock.

 

[GrizFyrFyter]

Also, be cautious with getting coraline from other tanks, you can get pests that way.

 

[Projects with Sam]

I put the ARCReef purple helix in my tank about 4 weeks ago and have been keeping my Ca/KH and temp within their guidelines and I am starting to get coralline growth all over. Great product!
dose Kalkwasser...