When Coraline Algae Starts to Grow?

Gungo · Feb 4, 2020

Good day people,

I am wondering.. when is the "right time" to see some Coraline algae growing?

My tank passed the 4th-month mark and I still don't see any Coraline algae growing. I've dosed with coralline algae from my friends like a month ago and nothing is happening.

Parameters:

ALK : 7.7
CA: 420
MG: 1280
Temp: 27c
Po4: 0.1
No3: 0

Any advice?

dwest · Feb 4, 2020

frcarvajal said:
Good day people,

I am wondering.. when is the "right time" to see some Coraline algae growing?

My tank passed the 4th-month mark and I still don't see any Coraline algae growing. I've dosed with coralline algae from my friends like a month ago and nothing is happening.

Parameters:

ALK : 7.7
CA: 420
MG: 1280
Temp: 27c
Po4: 0.1
No3: 0

Any advice?

I would say in the next couple of months you should see some. Do you have any coral yet? reef lighting? Your parameters look good except I would like to see measurable nitrates.

destro · Feb 4, 2020

I started getting good crusting after 8 months.

Fishy212 · Feb 4, 2020

Just a thought for you. If you have snails , hermits or urchins they will also eat it before it has time to form. I have noticing it growing on places where it’s harder for them to get to.

dank reefer · Feb 4, 2020

And be careful what you wish for, as once it takes off a scraping you will be

HTXReefer · Feb 4, 2020

My tank is just now starting to see coralline growth at 9 months

X-37B · Feb 4, 2020

Stability helps. Dosing trace helps. Starting with some live rock even better!
This is a new tank first is 2 months second is 4 months. And today 7.5 months

AZMSGT · Feb 4, 2020

From the time you add some to the time you see it can take 6-12 weeks depending on the size of the system.

Gungo · Feb 4, 2020

dwest said:
I would say in the next couple of months you should see some. Do you have any coral yet? reef lighting? Your parameters look good except I would like to see measurable nitrates.

I have som SPS in the tank and they're doing fine. They don't have the best color but they seem ok. Good polyp extension.
I think I'll start dosing No3 because its always running @ 0.

Fishy212 said:
Just a thought for you. If you have snails , hermits or urchins they will also eat it before it has time to form. I have noticing it growing on places where it’s harder for them to get to.

No snails, but some hermit crabs available.

Jose Esteves said:
And be careful what you wish for, as once it takes off a scraping you will be

Jajaja, I've never reached that point in all tanks I had, would love to have that experience!

Gungo · Feb 4, 2020

90's reefer said:
Stability helps. Dosing trace helps. Starting with some live rock even better!
This is a new tank first is 2 months second is 4 months. And today 7.5 months

I started why Dry Rock. I added a small piece of rock from friend's fuge to introduce pods and some life and few months after I've seen some pods around

destro · Feb 4, 2020

I saw a video where someone scraped off some coraline algae from one tank, crushed it up and sprinkled it over new rock to seed.

dank reefer · Feb 4, 2020

I asked this question before, and they said it was totally doable.

If you have a buddy that has a good amount of Coraline. have him turn off the pumps in the tank, have him scrape it off, and fill a water bottle up with the newly scraped coraline in it. Then just add the water to your tank. I've never tried this, but was told it will work.

X-37B · Feb 4, 2020

Jose Esteves said:
I asked this question before, and they said it was totally doable.

If you have a buddy that has a good amount of Coraline. have him turn off the pumps in the tank, have him scrape it off, and fill a water bottle up with the newly scraped coraline in it. Then just add the water to your tank. I've never tried this, but was told it will work.

It works. If your lfs has live rock you can buy a piece and scrape all the coralline off into a small container with tank water. Then just pour it into your tank. Make sure your parameters are stable and it will start to grow.

Tahoe61 · Feb 4, 2020

My tank is just going on 5 months. I do dose 2 parts. Lighting is LED. Started with dry rock and sand.

Gungo · Feb 4, 2020

I did that, one of my best friends is full of coraline and I took fresh from his display and let it sit on my tank for about an hour but nothing happened. He tells me that it will come with patience.

The tank is 24 x 18 x 18 being lighted by an Ecotech XR15 PRO + Aquatic life hybrid with 2 blue plus and 2 actinics

X-37B · Feb 4, 2020

frcarvajal said:
I did that, one of my best friends is full of coraline and I took fresh from his display and let it sit on my tank for about an hour but nothing happened. He tells me that it will come with patience.

The tank is 24 x 18 x 18 being lighted by an Ecotech XR15 PRO + Aquatic life hybrid with 2 blue plus and 2 actinics

Take the scrapings and leave then in your tank. It does take some time though. The white spots you see in my tank are from asterina starfish.
I just started to remove them over 60 in one week. Its a constant battle. Having a tang and lawnmower blenny helps as they are constantly picking the rocks spreading the coralline. I have to scrape coralline dots off the front and sides of my tank weekly to keep it at bay.

Gungo · Feb 27, 2020

Hello guys,

Almost 6 months and I still have the same problem.

My rock doesn’t look mature to be honest. They have this dirty layer that if I touch with my hand it will go away and rocks looks white as following

Do you know what I am doing wrong???

Parameters still the same as 1 month ago.

chris k. · Feb 27, 2020

It took my tank over a year before i started seeing coraline grow, now it grows on the glass where it is hard to remove. Dont rush it, it will happen when its ready.

Jenuvio · Feb 27, 2020

frcarvajal said:
Hello guys,

Almost 6 months and I still have the same problem.

My rock doesn’t look mature to be honest. They have this dirty layer that if I touch with my hand it will go away and rocks looks white as following

Do you know what I am doing wrong???

Parameters still the same as 1 month ago.

You are going through the "ugly stage" looks normal. Wait it out!

Is that a Mocha clown fish?

X-37B · Feb 27, 2020

frcarvajal said:
Hello guys,

Almost 6 months and I still have the same problem.

My rock doesn’t look mature to be honest. They have this dirty layer that if I touch with my hand it will go away and rocks looks white as following

Do you know what I am doing wrong???

Parameters still the same as 1 month ago.

Do you have any live rocks with coralline in your tank?
If you dont, find one, and put it in your tank or scrape off all the coralline and put it in.
It wont grow if its not present in the tank.
I got rid of the brown uglys with vibrant.
Here is a before and after pic using vibrant.
The only rock to get the uglies was the caribsea dead rock. All live rock never got the uglies.
6 weeks between the 2 pics.