Tips on growing coralline on live rock

saltwater2999 · 07/10/2013, 08:13 PM

I have had my 55 gallon reef tank set up for 9 months. Any tips on growing coralline in my tank

bnumair · 07/10/2013, 08:21 PM

buy a piece of rock with bunch on it and place it right in front of power head, scrape a little now and then but not really required.
Also maintain good water quality and steady parameters with good lighting system.

Fish_King_25 · 07/10/2013, 08:22 PM

just be patient. If your water parameters are all in line and all levels are in good shape, it will grow, don't worry. I don't advise dosing any of those things you find in the LFS that increase coraline or any of that. Just be patient and keep your water quality in good shape.

avionixx · 07/10/2013, 10:58 PM

I second the idea of seeding from existing sources! I have a 55 gallon also that's almost two months old now and I'm starting to see purple spots all over my rocks.

I started with 90% dry marco rock and I bought a 5lb piece of live rock with some purple sections on it and just plopped it inside the display tank; didn't scrape the existing coralline or anything.

I check my parameters weekly to make sure they're in check, as of right now I'm experiencing a drop in alkalinity to the tune of about 3.5dkh a week, with calcium and mag staying the same. I predict calcium usage will start to climb as the coralline gets established.

Sk8r · 07/10/2013, 11:00 PM

Imitate my parameters and I can't swear it'll grow on the rock exclusively: you're likely to be scraping it off your glass.

robotman · 07/11/2013, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avionixx

I second the idea of seeding from existing sources! I have a 55 gallon also that's almost two months old now and I'm starting to see purple spots all over my rocks.

I started with 90% dry marco rock and I bought a 5lb piece of live rock with some purple sections on it and just plopped it inside the display tank; didn't scrape the existing coralline or anything.

I check my parameters weekly to make sure they're in check, as of right now I'm experiencing a drop in alkalinity to the tune of about 3.5dkh a week, with calcium and mag staying the same. I predict calcium usage will start to climb as the coralline gets established.

what do you have so far in your tank? i hit the 8 week mark today, Should see some of my pictures!

avionixx · 07/11/2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robotman

what do you have so far in your tank? i hit the 8 week mark today, Should see some of my pictures!

I have two ocellaris clownfish, a royal gramma, and a frag of red hornet zoas. I currently have two damsels (likely a very bad idea, but parents picked them out), a canary wrasse, and a dispar anthias about a week into QT right now and hopefully will be into the display after the month's out. I'd love to see some pics!

cakemanPA · 07/11/2013, 09:44 AM

I kept my tank seeded when I set it up. It took me 6 months before I saw any spread. Now I have it all over my rock and back glass. Patience and parameters for me.

07/10/2013, 08:13 PM	#1
saltwater2999 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: illinios Posts: 170	Tips on growing coralline on live rock I have had my 55 gallon reef tank set up for 9 months. Any tips on growing coralline in my tank

07/10/2013, 08:21 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	buy a piece of rock with bunch on it and place it right in front of power head, scrape a little now and then but not really required. Also maintain good water quality and steady parameters with good lighting system. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE Last edited by bnumair; 07/10/2013 at 08:31 PM.

07/10/2013, 08:22 PM	#3
Fish_King_25 Reef Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 826	just be patient. If your water parameters are all in line and all levels are in good shape, it will grow, don't worry. I don't advise dosing any of those things you find in the LFS that increase coraline or any of that. Just be patient and keep your water quality in good shape. __________________ ~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

07/10/2013, 11:00 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Imitate my parameters and I can't swear it'll grow on the rock exclusively: you're likely to be scraping it off your glass. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/10/2013, 10:58 PM	#4
avionixx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 61	I second the idea of seeding from existing sources! I have a 55 gallon also that's almost two months old now and I'm starting to see purple spots all over my rocks. I started with 90% dry marco rock and I bought a 5lb piece of live rock with some purple sections on it and just plopped it inside the display tank; didn't scrape the existing coralline or anything. I check my parameters weekly to make sure they're in check, as of right now I'm experiencing a drop in alkalinity to the tune of about 3.5dkh a week, with calcium and mag staying the same. I predict calcium usage will start to climb as the coralline gets established.

07/11/2013, 09:44 AM	#8
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	I kept my tank seeded when I set it up. It took me 6 months before I saw any spread. Now I have it all over my rock and back glass. Patience and parameters for me.