how/when to see coraline algae?

Fish_King_25 · 06/05/2012, 08:24 PM

I have done much work to get my tank back in pristine working order, and one thing I do not know much about is what causes coraline alage growth. Will I ever get to see coraline algae in my setup, or is that only something that happens in new setups? I have about 40 lbs of rock all together, three pieces of rock were originally dry-rock, but they have been in my tank since the very beginning (7 years ago) and have always had coraline/growth on them, so I believe they are considered live rock now. I am just wondering if there is any method to getting some nice coraline growth on my rocks now?

hanas · 06/05/2012, 08:32 PM

How are your calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels?

tdo · 06/05/2012, 08:34 PM

How long have u been up and running?

Fish_King_25 · 06/05/2012, 08:45 PM

Nami: I took my water to my LFS to test for alk,mg, and calc because the Test kit I bought (Red Sea combo) is back ordered. All three levels were on the money, I will be able to update the actual figures when I get my test kit and tesdt again.

Tdo: The tank itself is 7 years old. I neglected it a lot, and recently got it back in order. By recently I mean gradual water changes and testing over the course of the last 3 months. Parameters are all basically spot on.

Fish_King_25 · 06/06/2012, 11:43 AM

Bump.

Lateralus · 06/06/2012, 12:37 PM

So you currently have coraline in the tank? If not you need to have some in there to seed it. Besides having alc,calc and mag where they need to be and assuming the rest of your water is good just make sure you have good flow over any spots that currently have coraline on it. Really, good flow in general. You could also turn your filter off for a bit then take some sort of brush and brush and existing coraline in you tank to help release some of the spores into the water. Not sure if that really works but in my mind it did.

Uncle Salty 05 · 06/06/2012, 01:56 PM

Go buy some nice porous coralline encrusted rock (just one or two small pieces) as seed. I mean nice pink and purple pieces thare are covered.
If your parameters are right it will come.

UCT · 06/06/2012, 04:57 PM

My return is purple, my snail shells are purple, my hermits are purple, my pumps are purple, there is purple on the glass. My rocks are brown.

noj3333 · 06/06/2012, 06:49 PM

I'm starting to see spots of coraline... my tank has been up and running for almost 4 months.

Fish_King_25 · 06/06/2012, 09:59 PM

I've got a bit of Coraline on some of my rocks but ironically enough...the rocks in my tank that were dry rock pieces 7 years ago when I set my tank up are the ones with all the Coraline on them..the disk live rock pieces in my tank is what I'm trying to get some growing on

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Reeferz412 · 06/07/2012, 12:18 PM

I would do what others said... Get something with lots of coralline, and put it near one of your powerheads/are where high flow hits it. Or you could even go further and get whatever has a ton of coralline and scrape it into a container using a razor blade, then dump the container into your system

Fish_King_25 · 06/07/2012, 10:58 PM

IM going to give everything a few more water changes and see if I get any Coraline, if not I'll be on the,hunt for some coraline infested rocks at my LFS lol

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Michigan Mike · 06/08/2012, 05:26 AM

Yup you need a piece that has it already to seed the tank. 3 months or so is when it really starts taking off ime.

Fish_King_25 · 06/08/2012, 09:25 AM

Well its probably only been 1.5
Months since I got my parameters back in order...and my tank has been up for 7 years
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bgmac · 06/13/2012, 02:03 AM

I have recently obsessed over my calcium coraline growth. Here is my story. my tank has been running for about 2 years. It is my first tank and had my ups and downs in the beginning.

Specs:

55 gallon long
20 gallon sump
Skimmer: Reef Octopus NWB 150 (New) ( was running a Aqua-C remora)
4" of natural Hawaiian sand in tank and sump
Approx 70 lbs of live rock
Flow: approx 300 gph return, 1200 gph power head in main tank
Live stock: 2 x false percs, 1 x yellow tang (don't hate me), 1 x coral banded shrimp, hand full of hermits (very small 1/2 or less). 2 x rock boring sea urchins, a few various local snails including 2 x cowries (all small). Most everything local caught by me at the beach and under the docks at my work.
Lighting: 48" marineland double bright LED. 30" T5 18W w/blue actinic bulb.
Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrates: less than 5
Phosphates: .25 or slightly less
Calc: 400-420
Mag: 1400
Alk: 8-9
PH: 8.4-8.5
Salinity: 1.025 - 1.026
Water sources: Local state run fish hatchery well salt water (premium quality, all test sat, and free), make up water RO/DI
I think that covers it.
Anyway. When I first started the tank 2 years ago, I had ok calcium coraline growth, a little on the glass, rocks, etc. Primarly red, pink and green. After about a year I got lazy and let my bad parameters creep up a little. Had some hair algea and the typical stuff. Recently got serious again and started to do water changes about 3 to 5 times a week (10 gal at a time). Started watching my parameters and brought my clalc, mag and alk up to standard reef level. I also collected some nice coral rubble completely coated in calcium coraline (purple, pink and red) at a local reef and put in the tank. So far no real progress. very slight growth over the past couple months but nothing special. I am wondering if my lack of light is the cause for the lack of growth. Any ideas?

Michigan Mike · 06/13/2012, 03:56 AM

The urchins eat coralline algae. Calcium could it a it more. I don't think it's the light, it will grow in all light intensities high or low. 2 urchins are mostly the issue I thnk?

bgmac · 06/13/2012, 10:19 AM

I have read that before about the urchins. They have climbed on some of the rubble pieces that have the coralline growing. I try to push them of when I see it but who knows what happens late in the night. I have also watched some of the hermit crabs munching on the coralline. Do you think thinning out the clean up crew would cause long term problems in the tank with fewer scavengers taking care of business. Current clean up crew: 6-10 1/2" left handed hermit crabs. 2 sea urchins. 4-5 local snails.

06/05/2012, 08:24 PM	#1
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	how/when to see coraline algae? I have done much work to get my tank back in pristine working order, and one thing I do not know much about is what causes coraline alage growth. Will I ever get to see coraline algae in my setup, or is that only something that happens in new setups? I have about 40 lbs of rock all together, three pieces of rock were originally dry-rock, but they have been in my tank since the very beginning (7 years ago) and have always had coraline/growth on them, so I believe they are considered live rock now. I am just wondering if there is any method to getting some nice coraline growth on my rocks now? __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

06/05/2012, 08:45 PM	#4
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	Nami: I took my water to my LFS to test for alk,mg, and calc because the Test kit I bought (Red Sea combo) is back ordered. All three levels were on the money, I will be able to update the actual figures when I get my test kit and tesdt again. Tdo: The tank itself is 7 years old. I neglected it a lot, and recently got it back in order. By recently I mean gradual water changes and testing over the course of the last 3 months. Parameters are all basically spot on. __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

06/06/2012, 11:43 AM	#5
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	Bump. __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

06/06/2012, 12:37 PM	#6
Lateralus Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Charles mo. Posts: 756	So you currently have coraline in the tank? If not you need to have some in there to seed it. Besides having alc,calc and mag where they need to be and assuming the rest of your water is good just make sure you have good flow over any spots that currently have coraline on it. Really, good flow in general. You could also turn your filter off for a bit then take some sort of brush and brush and existing coraline in you tank to help release some of the spores into the water. Not sure if that really works but in my mind it did. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef/ 40 gal sump. Born on 5/30/13.

06/06/2012, 01:56 PM	#7
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Go buy some nice porous coralline encrusted rock (just one or two small pieces) as seed. I mean nice pink and purple pieces thare are covered. If your parameters are right it will come. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

06/05/2012, 08:32 PM	#2
hanas Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 795	How are your calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels?

06/05/2012, 08:34 PM	#3
tdo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 124	How long have u been up and running?

06/06/2012, 04:57 PM	#8
UCT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 90720 Posts: 142	My return is purple, my snail shells are purple, my hermits are purple, my pumps are purple, there is purple on the glass. My rocks are brown.

06/06/2012, 06:49 PM	#9
noj3333 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 235	I'm starting to see spots of coraline... my tank has been up and running for almost 4 months.

06/06/2012, 09:59 PM	#10
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	I've got a bit of Coraline on some of my rocks but ironically enough...the rocks in my tank that were dry rock pieces 7 years ago when I set my tank up are the ones with all the Coraline on them..the disk live rock pieces in my tank is what I'm trying to get some growing on Sent via Tapatalk __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

06/07/2012, 12:18 PM	#11
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	I would do what others said... Get something with lots of coralline, and put it near one of your powerheads/are where high flow hits it. Or you could even go further and get whatever has a ton of coralline and scrape it into a container using a razor blade, then dump the container into your system __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

06/07/2012, 10:58 PM	#12
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	IM going to give everything a few more water changes and see if I get any Coraline, if not I'll be on the,hunt for some coraline infested rocks at my LFS lol Sent via Tapatalk __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

06/08/2012, 05:26 AM	#13
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	Yup you need a piece that has it already to seed the tank. 3 months or so is when it really starts taking off ime.

06/08/2012, 09:25 AM	#14
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	Well its probably only been 1.5 Months since I got my parameters back in order...and my tank has been up for 7 years Sent via Tapatalk __________________ ~Kenny~ 29g mixed reef lps, sps, and softies, 10g sump/fuge, cadlights pls-100 skimmer, LifeReef overflow with Mag 7 return pump, Tunze ATO, 2 Koralias, 4x24w T5HO ATIs w/ moonlight LEDs Current Tank Info: Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Green Mandarin, Diamond Goby, Percula Clown, and CUC

06/13/2012, 02:03 AM	#15
bgmac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 5	I have recently obsessed over my calcium coraline growth. Here is my story. my tank has been running for about 2 years. It is my first tank and had my ups and downs in the beginning. Specs: 55 gallon long 20 gallon sump Skimmer: Reef Octopus NWB 150 (New) ( was running a Aqua-C remora) 4" of natural Hawaiian sand in tank and sump Approx 70 lbs of live rock Flow: approx 300 gph return, 1200 gph power head in main tank Live stock: 2 x false percs, 1 x yellow tang (don't hate me), 1 x coral banded shrimp, hand full of hermits (very small 1/2 or less). 2 x rock boring sea urchins, a few various local snails including 2 x cowries (all small). Most everything local caught by me at the beach and under the docks at my work. Lighting: 48" marineland double bright LED. 30" T5 18W w/blue actinic bulb. Parameters: Ammonia: 0 Nitrates: less than 5 Phosphates: .25 or slightly less Calc: 400-420 Mag: 1400 Alk: 8-9 PH: 8.4-8.5 Salinity: 1.025 - 1.026 Water sources: Local state run fish hatchery well salt water (premium quality, all test sat, and free), make up water RO/DI I think that covers it. Anyway. When I first started the tank 2 years ago, I had ok calcium coraline growth, a little on the glass, rocks, etc. Primarly red, pink and green. After about a year I got lazy and let my bad parameters creep up a little. Had some hair algea and the typical stuff. Recently got serious again and started to do water changes about 3 to 5 times a week (10 gal at a time). Started watching my parameters and brought my clalc, mag and alk up to standard reef level. I also collected some nice coral rubble completely coated in calcium coraline (purple, pink and red) at a local reef and put in the tank. So far no real progress. very slight growth over the past couple months but nothing special. I am wondering if my lack of light is the cause for the lack of growth. Any ideas? Last edited by bgmac; 06/13/2012 at 02:14 AM.

06/13/2012, 03:56 AM	#16
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	The urchins eat coralline algae. Calcium could it a it more. I don't think it's the light, it will grow in all light intensities high or low. 2 urchins are mostly the issue I thnk?

06/13/2012, 10:19 AM	#17
bgmac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 5	I have read that before about the urchins. They have climbed on some of the rubble pieces that have the coralline growing. I try to push them of when I see it but who knows what happens late in the night. I have also watched some of the hermit crabs munching on the coralline. Do you think thinning out the clean up crew would cause long term problems in the tank with fewer scavengers taking care of business. Current clean up crew: 6-10 1/2" left handed hermit crabs. 2 sea urchins. 4-5 local snails.