Coraline algae question??

smstrick20 · 09/27/2006, 10:43 PM

Hey,

Ok so I like to think ive done my homework over the past 5 years of keeping huge freshwater fish always reading about reefs and reef keeping but I guess there is always room for a question or two. Ive had my 90g tank up and running for about 3 months now, tank has cycled and was seeded with garf grunge, or live sand and coraline crushed rock and debris. Tank currently has 85 lbs of rock, 55 live and 30 dried tongo completely cured.

My question is what do i need to do to facilitate good coraline algea growth, my live rock, for a while there it seemed to be spreading well but them I had a diatom algea bloom and well it seems as if any coloration i had stopped. Calcium and carbonates are all where they should be, lighting is good, although ive always read that coraline algea can grow in low light anyway. Any suggestions or is this natural and just anoter patience process.

outy · 09/27/2006, 11:23 PM

patience.

let your tank go through its new cycles the diatoms will go away as long as you have nitrate and a good phosphate management system in place.

keeping ph around 8.2 alk around 3.6 and ca at 400 with mag at 1350 and in no time youll have so much youll wish you didnt. lol

Paintbug · 09/28/2006, 09:10 AM

i agree. patience! coralline is all about the water quality. like outy said keep your parameters in check and you will be complaining everything you have to scrape the glass like the rest of us

.

i try to keep my alk a little on the high side. around 10 dKH

UrbanSage · 09/28/2006, 11:14 AM

monitor and adjust calcium and alkalinity. Magnesium is important but usually controlled through water changes.
Semi monthly 15% waterchanges and a two part additive will work like a charm

gman19 · 09/29/2006, 07:13 AM

Patience is as key as water parameters...

I keep Calcium at 440-460, Magnesium at 1300-1350 and have to scrape small new patches off the front glass on a weekly basis. My tank is about 10 months old.

dc · 09/29/2006, 07:47 AM

I do absolutely nothing, all my tanks have different lighting and all have coraline growing in them.

corals b 4 bills · 09/29/2006, 07:48 AM

At one time I could not get Coraline to grow for the life of me, but once I got my water parameters correct I started using Kents Reef builder (alk), and Reef complete (raises calcium). together these two bump started my coraline to where it looks like purple paint.

09/27/2006, 10:43 PM	#1
smstrick20 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 110	Coraline algae question?? Hey, Ok so I like to think ive done my homework over the past 5 years of keeping huge freshwater fish always reading about reefs and reef keeping but I guess there is always room for a question or two. Ive had my 90g tank up and running for about 3 months now, tank has cycled and was seeded with garf grunge, or live sand and coraline crushed rock and debris. Tank currently has 85 lbs of rock, 55 live and 30 dried tongo completely cured. My question is what do i need to do to facilitate good coraline algea growth, my live rock, for a while there it seemed to be spreading well but them I had a diatom algea bloom and well it seems as if any coloration i had stopped. Calcium and carbonates are all where they should be, lighting is good, although ive always read that coraline algea can grow in low light anyway. Any suggestions or is this natural and just anoter patience process.

09/28/2006, 09:10 AM	#3
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	i agree. patience! coralline is all about the water quality. like outy said keep your parameters in check and you will be complaining everything you have to scrape the glass like the rest of us . i try to keep my alk a little on the high side. around 10 dKH __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

09/28/2006, 11:14 AM	#4
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,657	monitor and adjust calcium and alkalinity. Magnesium is important but usually controlled through water changes. Semi monthly 15% waterchanges and a two part additive will work like a charm __________________ You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Current Tank Info: 270 gallon reef.

09/29/2006, 07:13 AM	#5
gman19 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 425	Patience is as key as water parameters... I keep Calcium at 440-460, Magnesium at 1300-1350 and have to scrape small new patches off the front glass on a weekly basis. My tank is about 10 months old. __________________ 100G AllGlass reef/Lifereef Filter Systems custom sump/skimmer/filter cylinders. 1/5 HP Aqualogic chiller, ACIII controller, Lifereef LCR1 Calcium Reactor. Current Tank Info: 100g reef/Berlin method

09/29/2006, 07:47 AM	#6
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I do absolutely nothing, all my tanks have different lighting and all have coraline growing in them. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/27/2006, 11:23 PM	#2
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	patience. let your tank go through its new cycles the diatoms will go away as long as you have nitrate and a good phosphate management system in place. keeping ph around 8.2 alk around 3.6 and ca at 400 with mag at 1350 and in no time youll have so much youll wish you didnt. lol

09/29/2006, 07:48 AM	#7
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	At one time I could not get Coraline to grow for the life of me, but once I got my water parameters correct I started using Kents Reef builder (alk), and Reef complete (raises calcium). together these two bump started my coraline to where it looks like purple paint. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.