coraline algae newbie question

[Darkangel]

All the coraline algae on my live rock is dying and it is not growing back. I add kalkwasser every third top off and i have power compacts but no growth. I have two blue tuxedo urchins, a reef lobster, a clown tang,hawkfish,clownfish,coralbeauty and a arrow crab. What is the fastest,easiest way to get awesome growth levels? I had a cyano prob a while back but i used redslime remover to get rid of it and it stoppped growing but now i want my coraline to grow. Any tips or advice?

thanks in advance,

 

[Anonymous]

Is the coralline dying, or disappearing? I notice you have two urchins, and they are notorious for rasping coralline off of the rocks.

 

[loui]

Coralline algae does not care what type of lighting you have you can have coralline in a tank that is completely dark. Good coralline growth depends on Alk and Calcium make sure these to Parameters are good. 400PPm for calcium and 10-12 DKH for Alk. HTH

 

[Darkangel]

thanks for the info guys, umm as far as i can see it just wont grow. I had a cyano prob but the red slime remover while not removing it from the rocks it killed its advance and it hasnt grown in like over a month. i use power compacts fo lighting. I also have a phosphate problem but that was due to usign tap water with a dechlorinater, now i am using glacier water from those big machines, they claim there are carbon filtered and are reverse osmosis water. will the coraline grow over the old dead cyano or must i scrape the rocks first? thanks again guys for helping out

 

[fishfanatic2]

I doubt it is the urchins since my coralline grows great even though I have my pencil urchin. He occasionally eats some, but not really a lot. Calcium/Alk is probably the problem.

 

[Micky]

I agree with the cal./alk problem, when you test what do you come up with for calcium and your alk? As far as the urchins I have three in my reef, and yes they do eat coralline but it usually grows at a much faster rate than they eat it.

 

[redawg]

phosphates will slow the growth of coraline..

 

[ryan_lalande]

if you want great coralline algea you need to know this


first off the lower light levels the faster it grows
get kent marine supoer buffer....use that with you calcium drip method....
use a test kit to make you alk and calcium the perfect levels

dothis and you will have plenty of growth

i am guessing you problem is low alk......the buffer will solve your problems quickly

 

[Anonymous]

Pretty much what's been said...I might add that it will never grow as fast as other algae. It usually takes two months of stable, good water quality before it starts becoming apparent on powerheads, inside skimmers, etc. It will usually appear first in areas of very high flow like skimmer bodies, clear vinyl tubing, near the outlets of powerheads, etc.

you can have coralline in a tank that is completely dark

You can have it survive for a very long time in complete darkness, but it certainly won't grow. A moderate amount of light is all that is needed, and too much light (like directly under a metal halide) will kill it.

 

[Darkangel]

you guys rock! hanks for the great advice you make a newbie feel welcomed haha. I amtaking water to be tested tonight to my friends lfs. I will test alk and cal there, thank you

 

[Darkangel]

Ok my nitrites are nil, my nitrates are like 10-15 ppm, i have a phosphate problem but i am takign care of that, my alk is around 300ppm and i am not sure about my cal as i couldnt test it yet but i add kalkwasser mix every other top off. And still no growth! I will get back to ya all whe i test my cal. thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I feel that coraline comes with beig patient. Its hard to sppend up nature.Here is some of my coraline. I get excited every time I look at my tank. ! year old this month

 

[bc-matty]

Hi everyone! I was just reading along on what you guys were talking about, and I have to say that as a newbie with hopes of getting a salt water tank up and running soon, I am a little lost. In my past tank experiences (fresh water) algae was considered bad. What is coraline, and what is it's benefit to the tank? Sorry if this is a silly question.. but I am learning as I go. If I keep clowns, do I want coraline in my tank?

 

[robertpower3]

Just joined the group. What's up? To answer the last question. Coralline algae is a type of macro algae ( usually a red algae that spreads as pink, purple, or lavender) the encrusts your live rock. This type of algae competes with nuisance algae and is also very asthetically pleasing.

 

[danmhippo]

However, for those with little coralline growth, Coralline is a precious thing. For the others like me, coralline has become a pest. We spend hours every month or 2 scraping down corallines on the glass. If left unchecked, it will quickly cover your glass and you will be looking at a pink box. Moreover, don't expect your spouse to do it for you at your absence.

Coralline is calcareous algae. Translation - it will coat the inside of your plumbing work and sometimes, the pump. Making them work harder. The worst place to have coralline is the inside of the skimmer, but there is little you can do to stop them if they decide to grow there.

So think again, do you really really really want to promote coralline algae? 8O

 

[danmhippo]

When you have coralline on the walls, you will hate yourself if you didn't buy a glass tank in the first place............

 

[robertpower3]

I personally like the corraline growth as it looks much better than any hair algae i've ever seen. I thinkk as long as you clean the front of your glass the walls look good covered in coralline. Magnet cleaners work great if used regularly

 

[Anonymous]

See the purple on the rocks.This is what you want. When you go to get your live rock, try to buy with it on it. Will help your cylce alot. plus it puts alot of color in your tank. I got some premium live rock when I started. I opaid a little more but I feel it was worth it due to they cycle

 

[bc-matty]

Thank you all for the insight into the basics of coraline algae. I was a goof and typed my question before the picture above loaded, and figured that the purple/red stuff was coraline. Speaking of algae the local pet store in my area is worrying me. I have not yet started to purchase anything yet as I am still learning before I "dive" in.. however my concern is this... all of the salt water tanks that they at the store, all have green and white algae growth covered glass walls. This worries about when the time comes to buy fish. Should I be wary of dealers with large algae growth in their tanks.. or is this common place. My thought is algae means lazy staff, which makes me think.. unhealthy fish. All of the fresh water tanks are clean though.. should I still shop there.. or look around?

 

[Anonymous]

I look at it like a restuarant. If it is clean and no fish a sleeping(dead) then that is a start. Green tanks that all depends.How bad but I would question it.