How to turn reef rock purple

DangerClose · Feb 8, 2022

Good day all.

I am planning on building a negative space aquascape, with white reef rock/limestone.
My big question is, is there a safe way to guarantee it will turn purple or just luck of the draw?

I really appreciate the help

wonroc · Feb 8, 2022

in about 3 years.
just get some reef paint.
your more likely to have it all over your glass anyhow

reeftivo · Feb 8, 2022

it will come with proper lighting and stable parameters. i wouldn't be in a hurry LOL

it is as much a PIA as it is cool looking on the rocks. Mine gets all over everything. clogs up my gyres and sea swirl very fast too.

James77 · Feb 8, 2022

reeftivo said:
it will come with proper lighting and stable parameters. i wouldn't be in a hurry LOL

it is as much a PIA as it is cool looking on the rocks. Mine gets all over everything. clogs up my gyres and sea swirl very fast too.

It always makes me chuckle how much people want coralline algae when they start out (myself included). Fast forward a couple years, and they would do anything to be rid of it.

rhizotron · Feb 8, 2022

If you want a lot of surfaces with coralline, the best thing to do is just refrain from adding lots of corals so that there are areas with light and space. If you have stable parameters in favorable ranges, it will develop on its own.

blaxsun · Feb 8, 2022

All of the above.

SamMule · Feb 8, 2022

If you want it to be purple right off of the bat, Caribsea Liferock is a great choice.

trevorhiller · Feb 8, 2022

I dumped in some of the ARC Reef Purple Helix and Pink Fusion products. It has been 3 months since I added water and I have purple spots developing on the rocks. I'm in the same boat.... I want purple NOW! lol I think the desire for coralline is to have some visible life growing in the tank when it is too new for corals. Purple is my favorite color too and it definitely beats the brown crud growing on new dry rock.

I'm considering the Tropic Eden Morroca rock for the next tank, it's supposed to be pretty realistic, you just have to pay out the you know what for it. https://premiumaquatics.com/products/tropic-eden-morroca-arch-reef-rock-small-sold-pound.html

mdb_talon · Feb 8, 2022

trevorhiller said:
lol I think the desire for coralline is to have some visible life growing in the tank

I always want it because other algaes will bot grow on top of healthy coralline algae. It is a pain on glass/pumps, but it has a good purpose other than just looks.