No Coraline Algae

[RaymondL]

Tank started 9 months ago - I used dry base rock (from Caribsea) - rocks have turned green, which I'm told is normal. I have frags in the tank with purple coraline algae on them, but there hasn't been any indication of the algae growing on anything else. I had a few spots on the rocks, but it didn't last long - they faded away.

Ca is always kept at 430ppm and all other parameters are in check. Not sure if there's something environmental that coraline algae needs to grow and thrive? Or is the tank still immature and needs time before the algae appears?

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Tank started 9 months ago - I used dry base rock (from Caribsea) - rocks have turned green, which I'm told is normal. I have frags in the tank with purple coraline algae on them, but there hasn't been any indication of the algae growing on anything else. I had a few spots on the rocks, but it didn't last long - they faded away.

Ca is always kept at 430ppm and all other parameters are in check. Not sure if there's something environmental that coraline algae needs to grow and thrive? Or is the tank still immature and needs time before the algae appears?

Coraline will come with time. Pretty soon it becomes the bane of most reefers, because it grows over the glass and is a pain to scrape off. I suggest patience, and don't suggest adding anything to try to speed up it's growth.

 

[LxHowler]

I was the same. My tank was over a year old before coralline started to spread. And then it grew like a wild fire. Now I have to constantly scrape it off my glass just to be able to see the tank.

If your tank is healthy just give it time and it will seem to happen almost over night

 

[jhadaway]

Tank started 9 months ago - I used dry base rock (from Caribsea) - rocks have turned green, which I'm told is normal. I have frags in the tank with purple coraline algae on them, but there hasn't been any indication of the algae growing on anything else. I had a few spots on the rocks, but it didn't last long - they faded away.

Ca is always kept at 430ppm and all other parameters are in check. Not sure if there's something environmental that coraline algae needs to grow and thrive? Or is the tank still immature and needs time before the algae appears?

MY tank took 1 1/2 years for the coraline to take off. Now I'm scraping the glass. It will come in time.

 

[Rmckoy]

It will take time . And once you have it , you will wish you never wanted it .

But to speed it up you can scrape the little patches you see on rocks , frags or glass

Or ask for scrapings from your lfs
Adding the algae scrapings to your system will introduce the spores to grow

 

[CoachRichardson]

I guess I was a lucky one. It started in spots on my back wall after a coupe of months. I used dry rock also and I also added the Purple Helix Coraline after about a month. Today marks the 5 month mark for me. I can see 3-4 spots on the rocks now starting to show. I don't even know what my Ca is but I keep my Alk at 9. I guess it is different for everyone but I did use the Purple Helix in my last tank and it seemed to speed it along also.

 

[RaymondL]

Thanks everyone From the sounds of it, although as nice as it looks, it introduces some high maintenance, so perhaps better not to have it?

 

[Derrick0580]

My tank is over 2 years old and run g5 xr15 radions and have little to no coralline. Buddy of mine at lfs swears it’s the lights because the lfs owner runs the same ones and can’t grow it either. What little does grow is just small white patches.

 

[Goaway]

I run 3 noopsyche lights over 60"x18"x24". Coraline does not grow on the glass, but it grows on the rocks.

I seriously think it's an led light thing.

Thanks everyone From the sounds of it, although as nice as it looks, it introduces some high maintenance, so perhaps better not to have it?

Curious, what lights are you using and alk, mag levels?

 

[saltyfins]

Thanks everyone From the sounds of it, although as nice as it looks, it introduces some high maintenance, so perhaps better not to have it?

I personally despise the stuff. it gets EVERYWHERE...glass, rocks, pumps tubing...I have it in my sump as well, and there's zero light there. so yeah. I'm in the club of I wish it didn't exist

 

[X-37B]

I have to scrape my front glass once a week on my 80+30 to remove coralline spots.
I run all leds and coralline growth can be bothersome at times.
My 45 is heavily coated on the overflow. The stuff loves acrylic and plastic.
Quick cell pic.

 

[DDenny]

Tank started 9 months ago - I used dry base rock (from Caribsea) - rocks have turned green, which I'm told is normal. I have frags in the tank with purple coraline algae on them, but there hasn't been any indication of the algae growing on anything else. I had a few spots on the rocks, but it didn't last long - they faded away.

Ca is always kept at 430ppm and all other parameters are in check. Not sure if there's something environmental that coraline algae needs to grow and thrive? Or is the tank still immature and needs time before the algae appears?

My tank has been up and running for 2 years and I barely have a little coralline starting. Started with dry rock as well.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Not to forget, it sucks up cal and alk like a sponge

 

[marinesnow]

I hate it. I’m enjoying the early stages without it.

 

[RaymondL]

I personally despise the stuff. it gets EVERYWHERE...glass, rocks, pumps tubing...I have it in my sump as well, and there's zero light there. so yeah. I'm in the club of I wish it didn't exist

So many strive for that purple rock and as well products out there to sell the idea of getting coraline algae You're right, maybe I better not wish for this.

 

[RaymondL]

I have to scrape my front glass once a week on my 80+30 to remove coralline spots.
I run all leds and coralline growth can be bothersome at times.
My 45 is heavily coated on the overflow. The stuff loves acrylic and plastic.
Quick cell pic.

Thanks for sharing - that is really telling. I now don't want to see any spot of coralline algae after seeing this.

 

[RaymondL]

My tank is over 2 years old and run g5 xr15 radions and have little to no coralline. Buddy of mine at lfs swears it’s the lights because the lfs owner runs the same ones and can’t grow it either. What little does grow is just small white patches.

Eh? It starts out as white before going purple? So LEDs keep the coraline away?

 

[Derrick0580]

This is how it grows in my tank. Spotty on pumps like this as well, and pretty much nothing on the rocks. I think it may just be the spectrum the radions are putting out and not par. My buddy runs photons over a 180 gallon waterbox in an sps tank at 400-500+ par and his coralline grows like wildfire!

 

[Rmckoy]

I personally despise the stuff. it gets EVERYWHERE...glass, rocks, pumps tubing...I have it in my sump as well, and there's zero light there. so yeah. I'm in the club of I wish it didn't exist

Same here .
How does a plating shelf of coralline grow with little to no light ( actually I have a dollar store grow light over my cheato

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Same here .
How does a plating shelf of coralline grow with little to no light ( actually I have a dollar store grow light over my cheato

From what I remember reading, could be wrong, coralline grows better without light. It's calcium and alk based so no light needed