Coraline algae groth??

[fredso2003]

I would like to know how to speed up my coraline algae growth on my 110 gallon reef tank.I have about 100lb's of fiji live rock with about 5 different colors of coraline algae growing on it.My question is how do I get this stuff to spread? I use a kalkwasser drip and my calcium level is about 450 to 500 ppm Im using a 400 watt m/h with 2 40 watt atenic's all on timers.Please tell me how to speed up some growth dammit!!! :?
The tank is 9 moths old.

 

[Anonymous]

some claim that brushing it with a brush or scraping ti with a fingernail in the flow of a powerhead will seed it in other spots. i believe this to be true myself.

plenty of waterchanges will help accelerate growth.
when the water is depleted of things like strontium or magnesium, coralline growth can slow.

my present tank is only six months along and i have yet to create a strong coralline growth. this is not uncommon and should change when the tank is more established.

 

[ricky1414]

make sure the water you use is low in phosphates. high levels of phos hampers coraline algae growth

 

[rwoolley]

My tank is about 9 months old now and the coraline algae has grown "like weeds"! I've have two observations to share.
First, it has grown at four times the rate on the black in-tank overflow, now 100% covered with coraline. Not sure why exactly. :?
And B, I've got rotating powerheads and there is an obvious accelerated growth pattern on the back glass where the powerhead hits.
I don't do frequent water changes (probably should though), other than that I don't do anything unusual (well, not that I'll share on this forum anyway).
I don't know if this helps, or just raises more questions. :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

there are many supplements out there claiming to accelarate growth..dont know how true that is though...i use tropic marin calcium and that seems to help but who knows...after all im not a "scientist"

 

[ricky1414]

increased water flow helps coralline grow....(hey that rhymed)

 

[DaisyPolyp]

Best way to keep it growing fast is to turn off your MH. Strong lighting is a sure-fire way to bleach your algae.

 

[Mikef1]

Coraline algae doesnt always bleach near metal halides. Sometimes you will see a little more or darker purple coraline in shady areas but I have a lot of bright pink coraline growth directly under my 400s. I think that statement is a little over exagerated. I think that coraline algae grows different in every tank and like podman said a key thing is water changes also a good alk and high calcium.

 

[fredso2003]

Thanks for all the feedback,I added another larger powerhead today for higher flow rate and I bought some coralvite liquid gold.So we will see if the coraline starts to grow. 8)

 

[tikki50]

I just monitor my levels and keep accordingly I also add idodie and use seachem products. Reef complete, reef plus, reef builder, reef calcium, reef advantage, and phosban. Only been setup now for 3 months and half the rock I put in the tank was dead (no life) and now is covered, Im happy with my results.

 

[Anonymous]

Iodide? or Iodine? calc plays a big part in coralline growth...it is calcearous after all, it needs calcium to grow... .. Tikki, you dont need that many chemicals in a new tank, especially if you dont have corals...LPS's and SPS's soak up alot of calcium...thats cool you have alot of growth but i dont think most of those chems are necessary at this point in time you are at....FWIW