Do FOWLR tanks get coralline?

xtm · 02/10/2007, 10:52 PM

I'm trying to set up an acrylic FOWLR tank and I'm wondering if coralline grows in FOWLR tanks? This tank will have no other supplements except water changes and it will only have PC lighting. It would be a nightmare to have coralline grow all over an acrylic tank..

thnks

neotekz · 02/10/2007, 11:25 PM

as long as the lighting is good coraline will grow...i had a lot under pc lighting

LobsterOfJustice · 02/11/2007, 12:13 AM

Yes. Where there is saltwater, coralline will grow.

supervdl · 02/11/2007, 12:15 AM

Definitely will grow.

scoutmaniak · 02/11/2007, 12:17 AM

Mine is growing under the 18 watt NO bulbs, lol. Not as fast as the pc lighting in my reef, but it will grow!! Have fun, hehe.

Tang Salad · 02/11/2007, 12:17 AM

Agreed. Although there may be some way to alter your water chemistry to make it grow slower. I think it either low or high alkalinity will limit its growth. Someone will come by with an answer.

(LobsterOfJustice: Love the Username!

)

jag1979 · 02/11/2007, 07:38 AM

lack of calcium and alk will slow or stall the growth. I don't like it it is sucking up all the calcium and alk in my tank.

kfowler · 02/11/2007, 08:13 AM

My experience with coralline and new tanks is that you sit there and wonder if it's going to grow. Then you walk in one day and you notice some growth. Next thing you know it's spreading like wildfire. My turbo snails are getting all over their shells.

Make sure you have an adequate algae crew to keep the nuisance algae down. This will help.

Navyblue · 02/11/2007, 09:10 AM

Let your calcium or magnesium (likely the former first) deplete and maintain only carbonate level, which you need to keep the water buffered.

xtm · 02/11/2007, 10:12 AM

Which inverts consume coralline? I'm thinking a long-spined urchin.. is this 'ok' with any fish?

thanks for the replies

Navyblue · 02/11/2007, 10:15 AM

Many urchins would consume coralline, and in fact I am getting rid of my tuxedo for this reason. But IMO, limiting calcium is your safest bet if you don't want your acrylic scratched. Some urchin would also leave teeth mark on acrylic.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 02/11/2007, 10:28 AM

coralline algae rocks!

kaihonu82 · 02/11/2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xtm
It would be a nightmare to have coralline grow all over an acrylic tank..

thnks

Why do you say that? I have an acrylic tank and it has coraline on it. It's no big deal If you don't want it on the tank itself, you can easily scrape it off with a razor blade, leaving no evidence it was ever there. It won't scratch the tank if you do it properly.

neotekz · 02/11/2007, 01:47 PM

you can buy acrylic safe blades and magnets

sean48183 · 02/11/2007, 01:55 PM

Use instant ocean salt and don't add a calcium supplement. Instant ocean is around 250 ppm calcium -way too low for corraline to grow.

antonsemrad · 02/11/2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sean48183
Use instant ocean salt and don't add a calcium supplement. Instant ocean is around 250 ppm calcium -way too low for corraline to grow.

Yep.... thats what I would do.....

trapper01 · 02/11/2007, 03:52 PM

Hi guys Hay just a reply to antonsemrad you should send back your instant ocean salt if it only has 250 ppm calcium. I have never had it less then 350 ppm and a lot of the time it is 380 to 400 I have had bad luck with reef Crystals low calcium around 250 ppm and when i opend the 5gal bucket it had strong smell of vitamins just nasty stuff. But you are right at 250ppm I dont think coralline will grow to good nor will his snails or any other thing that needs calcium if mine ever got down to 250 I would have a hart attack I keep it 420 to 450

02/10/2007, 10:52 PM	#1
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	Do FOWLR tanks get coralline? I'm trying to set up an acrylic FOWLR tank and I'm wondering if coralline grows in FOWLR tanks? This tank will have no other supplements except water changes and it will only have PC lighting. It would be a nightmare to have coralline grow all over an acrylic tank.. thnks __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

02/11/2007, 12:13 AM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Yes. Where there is saltwater, coralline will grow. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

02/11/2007, 12:15 AM	#4
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	Definitely will grow. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

02/11/2007, 12:17 AM	#5
scoutmaniak Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Mexico Down In The Desert!! Posts: 500	Mine is growing under the 18 watt NO bulbs, lol. Not as fast as the pc lighting in my reef, but it will grow!! Have fun, hehe. __________________ 15 Gallon Nano 100 Gallon Tek 6 Bulb T-5 Fixture Current Tank Info: 55 gallon FW, 100 gallon Reef and 15 gallon nano

02/11/2007, 12:17 AM	#6
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Agreed. Although there may be some way to alter your water chemistry to make it grow slower. I think it either low or high alkalinity will limit its growth. Someone will come by with an answer. (LobsterOfJustice: Love the Username! ) __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/10/2007, 11:25 PM	#2
neotekz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ottawa, Ontario Posts: 698	as long as the lighting is good coraline will grow...i had a lot under pc lighting

02/11/2007, 07:38 AM	#7
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	lack of calcium and alk will slow or stall the growth. I don't like it it is sucking up all the calcium and alk in my tank. __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

02/11/2007, 08:13 AM	#8
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	My experience with coralline and new tanks is that you sit there and wonder if it's going to grow. Then you walk in one day and you notice some growth. Next thing you know it's spreading like wildfire. My turbo snails are getting all over their shells. Make sure you have an adequate algae crew to keep the nuisance algae down. This will help. __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef

02/11/2007, 09:10 AM	#9
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	Let your calcium or magnesium (likely the former first) deplete and maintain only carbonate level, which you need to keep the water buffered.

02/11/2007, 10:12 AM	#10
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,703	Which inverts consume coralline? I'm thinking a long-spined urchin.. is this 'ok' with any fish? thanks for the replies __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

02/11/2007, 10:15 AM	#11
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	Many urchins would consume coralline, and in fact I am getting rid of my tuxedo for this reason. But IMO, limiting calcium is your safest bet if you don't want your acrylic scratched. Some urchin would also leave teeth mark on acrylic.

02/11/2007, 10:28 AM	#12
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	coralline algae rocks! __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

02/11/2007, 01:47 PM	#14
neotekz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ottawa, Ontario Posts: 698	you can buy acrylic safe blades and magnets

02/11/2007, 01:55 PM	#15
sean48183 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 1,577	Use instant ocean salt and don't add a calcium supplement. Instant ocean is around 250 ppm calcium -way too low for corraline to grow.

02/11/2007, 03:52 PM	#17
trapper01 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hamilton NY Posts: 10	Hi guys Hay just a reply to antonsemrad you should send back your instant ocean salt if it only has 250 ppm calcium. I have never had it less then 350 ppm and a lot of the time it is 380 to 400 I have had bad luck with reef Crystals low calcium around 250 ppm and when i opend the 5gal bucket it had strong smell of vitamins just nasty stuff. But you are right at 250ppm I dont think coralline will grow to good nor will his snails or any other thing that needs calcium if mine ever got down to 250 I would have a hart attack I keep it 420 to 450