Really slow coraline growth?

[Jakemac]

Weird things happen within my tank... Diatoms bloom constantly, my levels remain constant (still getting alk undercontrol) coraline was on my LR when i bought them (fiji rock) and i see a little more growth on the rock.

Im looking at other 29 builds on here and they have coraline all over the back glass... What could i be doing wrong here? I lowered salinity for about 3 weeks to get rid of ICH but i saw no reduction in coraline on my LR

Also tanks been up 4 months

 

[mike007]

What are your water parameters? Calcium level needs to be 400-450 alk needs to be 8-10 What lighting do you have and how long is your photoperiod? It takes time to get corraline going but you need to have the proper elements to get it going.

 

[mainereefer]

what are ca and mag levels? even if your ca level is at 450 if your mag level isnt double that nothing can use the calcium.

you need 2 parts mag for every part calcium or the sea life dosnt recognize the calcium


tropicmarin bio calcium is great and a must have for any reef (without ca reactor)

 

[Jakemac]

I havent checked my levels since last night, but i just started kalk dosing in my ATO.

Levels:
Alk:12dkh
Calc:500ppm
Mag: Did not test

Lights: Reef breeders photon 24, 8 in off the water, running channel 1 (white,yellow,red) at 45% and channel 2 (blues) at 35% for about 3.5 hrs

 

[mainereefer]

calcium being at 500 tells me its not being used (unless it was right after the kalk dose) if its not being used maybe it cant be used because lack of mag

 

[Liquid360]

When reading threads like this things always get complicated. A new tank with LR (seeded) and good water(good salt) will ALWAYS grow coralline algae. If yours isn't, instead of adding more chemicals, recheck those basics cause something is wrong.

 

[Jakemac]

Yea thats what im thinking the more im looking at posts on the googles. Im thinking that dosing that will help a lot. Any tips with the dosing? IE mix it with the kalk or what kinda of ritual do i need to adapt to. TBH ive never touched mag before and everything seems to be okay

 

[Jakemac]

When reading threads like this things always get complicated. A new tank with LR (seeded) and good water(good salt) will ALWAYS grow coralline algae. If yours isn't, instead of adding more chemicals, recheck those basics cause something is wrong.

Thats the thing that confuses me... Everything that was basic checking durring the nitrogen cycle was spot on... Temp is 78-79 salinity is .0125 no ammonia, no nitrites, almost no nitrates.

Cant put my finger on it but i thought i saw some last night (i think i have reefer madness (the good kind haha))

 

[mainereefer]

Yea thats what im thinking the more im looking at posts on the googles. Im thinking that dosing that will help a lot. Any tips with the dosing? IE mix it with the kalk or what kinda of ritual do i need to adapt to. TBH ive never touched mag before and everything seems to be okay

I assume your talking about bio calcium? if so use it instead of the kalk
with bio-calcium you sprinkle it right into water flow instead of mixing waiting and using the clear water from kalk

also never add anything you cant test for . I watch ppl dump chemical after chemical into there tank when it is just something simple
the only test kits I use are kh and mag. if they are fine so is everything else. if there not start looking at other things

also coraline algae imo- isnt all that great to have!we spend crazy amount on lr because it is porous now if you cover it, it cant filter so whats the point besides its pretty

 

[Jakemac]

Not bio calc, i mean dosing mag. I havent tested for it and i dont plan on it until for 1 i test for it and 2 i wanna see what this kalkwasser is going to do.

 

[glb]

I find I have to add mg twice a week to keep my numbers in line. The test is a pain to do but it's important.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[Liquid360]

I'm confused but perhaps someone here could explain. I've got a new 60g cube reef. I add nothing to my water yet have coralline growing everywhere having used live seeded rock. In this photo you can see it growing on the plastic overflow. If dosing is key how am I getting such growth?

 

[Liquid360]

This is from my tank at roughly 4 months. This is about average.

 

[Reefing Madness]

If you get the numbers correctly inline, watch the Plating Coralline take over, and watch how much more your Corals and Coralline will grow. Although your not testing, Im gonna bet you do weekly water changes that keeps these number inline by default. Using a good Reef Salt that has good numbers when mixed.
Because if I showed you pictures of my tank, with hardly any Coralline, you'd go ???????? All my numbers are inline. So some stuff can't be explained.

 

[Papa]

I love purple up ......


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[raven67]

I think I read somewhere that coraline likes lower light levels. Although I see people with tons of SPS and good coraline


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[Reefing Madness]

Not so much lower lighting levels, as the color is different in the lower lighting areas.