Coraline Algae

[manjisann]

I've had my tank up since 08/2004 and I don't have any coraline algae growth on the glass or equipment. I have only recently been adding calcium to get the levels up to specs. Any suggestions?

 

[mrmaroon]

YOu do have live rock with coraline on it right? Sometimes it just takes a while. Are all of your water parameters good? I think some people will scrape some of the coraline off a rock into the current to "seed" it, but I have not tried that.

 

[marvida]

The quickest way I've found is to use kalkwasser as a calcium source & suplement mag.
Be careful what you wish for, it may come true.

 

[manjisann]

MrMaroon, yes I do have live rock with coralline algae on it, that was part of why I am confused.
All of my parameters are where they are supposed to be, the only one that is off is alkalinity, and that is just a little high. I don't really want to use Kalkwasser as I don't want to have to rig the drip system at this time. I am using Seachem. Besides, what is wrong with coralline algae, it is a sign of a healthy system.

 

[mrmaroon]

Nothing is wrong with it and it is a sign of a healthy system. Some people dont like the looks of it and find it a pain to scrape off their glass and equip. I like the stuff.

 

[marvida]

There's nothing wrong with it but taking it off acrylic can cause some serious scratches. While it can indicate that your system is healthy, I've seen it growing well in some very questionable tanks.
I've also had it not grow in very healthy tanks. I personally like it and encourage it's growth.

 

[sprang]

mine is out of control, but I don't want to scape it off because I've heard it lowers nitrate? Is this true?

 

[marvida]

I haven't heard that one. Why would lowering nitrates be a bad thing?

 

[rzbud99]

I think what Sprang ment was that while the coralline algae is in the tank it helps lower nitrates.

 

[goldenboy]

best way to spread coraline is to scrub the rock with a hard brush. Make sure you have good waterflow to "spread the seed".

 

[inthabayou]

Anyone want to help out and send me some good coralline scrapings from their tank for a small fee? I am in Louisiana... will pay all necessary s/h...

 

[jjlittle]

I to had slow coraline growth and my local retailer said check your alkalinity for everything else was great . it was low i used buffer and within a month it was growing on teh glass.

 

[jeremyglen]

My tanks go through spurts of massive growth. I noticed that the coralline grows best in lower light and higher water current. Mine also grows in phases. The first to show up each growth spurt is a pretty dark green, followed by a nice bright pink. I haven't really had much purple growth on the glass, but I've noticed a few rocks with some purple that wasn't there before.
Each time I have one of these "growth spurts" of coralline is after I buffer the tank or do a massive water change. I know my pH stays a little low sometimes, but I add the buffer and the tank just gets covered. I add the Kent Liquid Buffer w/ Coralline Accelerator and it seems to do quite well, at least until I get a Kalk drip going.
I keep only the front of my tank's glass cleaned so I have more area that the coralline grows. I let the front go as long as I can stand without cleaning it to get as many spots of pink and green to scrape off when I do clean it. It helps to spread the stuff everywhere.

 

[inthabayou]

Anyone want to help out and send me some good coralline scrapings from their tank for a small fee? I am in Louisiana... will pay all necessary s/h...
So once again I ask.....:cheer: