Corraline algea why so good????

[omgsaltwat]

I have a ? about corraline algea I have lots of it growing on my rock and just wondering why is it so good to have? Because it is starting to cover the small holes on my rock if it covers alot of holes will it stop the rocks ability to filter the water???

 

[dogstar]

I think you have a good point there...most people like it because it looks good and adds color to the rocks....

 

[travis89]

Because if coraline algae has taken hold then other algaes like hair algae can't take hold. They won't grow on top of each other.

 

[rdf128]

I like it because it's the only thing that grows (spreads) in my tank :jumping:

 

[omgsaltwat]

Originally Posted by Travis89
Because if coraline algae has taken hold then other algaes like hair algae can't take hold. They won't grow on top of each other.
I can get some kind of clean-up crew for the other algae ( fish or snail) but if the "LR" can't breath what good is it?

 

[travis89]

Just one question though, how are you going to stop it from growing on your rock? You can't really scrape it off.

 

[omgsaltwat]

I don't think you can stop it I just wanted to know why every body thouht it was so good?

 

[travis89]

Originally Posted by OMGsaltwat
I don't think you can stop it I just wanted to know why every body thouht it was so good?
Oh, ok.

Then I stick with what I said above, and you can't really stop it, and it makes the rocks look better.

 

[jessecnc]

It also is a sign of a healthy tank.

 

[sharkbait9]

In a nut shell with out going into to much detail.
Coralline algae is good for many reasons. One the biggest is that is astatically pleasing to the viewer and hobbyist.
Beneficial wise there are a lot of reason and more reasons pop up every year. Coralline algae take up carbon for use in the process of photosynthesis.
Many corallines produce chemicals which promote the settlement of the larvae of certain herbivorous invertebrates. Some corallines slough off a surface layer of epithelial cells, which in a few cases may be an anti-fouling mechanism which serves the same function as enhancing herbivore recruitment.
This also affects the community, as many algae recruit on the surface of a sloughing coralline, and are then lost with the surface layer of cells. This can also generate patchiness within the community.
Coralline also wards off nuisance algae from having the ability to take hold and propagate. The list can go on and on. There is no real negatives to having coralline propagating in your tank, other then it covering up all the glass so you can’t see into the tank.
The biggest benefit to having coralline is that it’s one of the major building blocks of live rock “the cement” of the underwater community. As coralline grows and spreads it will take hold of one “rock” and spread and take hold of connecting/touching “rock” joining it together to make one big reef rock, thus making a “reef” in your own little ocean.

 

[whitey_028]

Thanks sharkbait for that info... learn something new everyday...

 

[04mach]

I always wanted it untill it started growing. Id love to not have it now...lol
Its a PITA to get off the glass.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by 04mach
I always wanted it untill it started growing. Id love to not have it now...lol
Its a PITA to get off the glass.
I know exactly what you mean, it's growing where I don't want it to and it's a pain to get it off the glass....It's spreading at a VERY fast rate in my newer tank and I haven't even done a water change in it for like 2 months, but there's no fish except inverts and live rock. :happyfish

 

[sharkbait9]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
I know exactly what you mean, it's growing where I don't want it to and it's a pain to get it off the glass....It's spreading at a VERY fast rate in my newer tank and I haven't even done a water change in it for like 2 months, but there's no fish except inverts and live rock. :happyfish
Wait till you forget your p/h and one day its clicking and stops. Yeah it happened to me on one of my aqua clear coralline was so bad on the shaft and props.

 

[saltn00b]

just wanted to add that corraline can be a way to check your calcium levels... of course without any accuracy, but if the purple stuff is the prevalent coralline algae then it is a good sign that the calcium levels are right for corals, because they need high levels to thrive. if its mostly green and red, then your calcium is probably low.

 

[pallan]

Originally Posted by saltn00b
just wanted to add that corraline can be a way to check your calcium levels... of course without any accuracy, but if the purple stuff is the prevalent coralline algae then it is a good sign that the calcium levels are right for corals, because they need high levels to thrive. if its mostly green and red, then your calcium is probably low.
never knew that
Good piece of info here. explains alot about why i have so much green corraline I knew my Calcium was low and have switched salts to fix this problem. So we shall see what changes are to come.
Thanks

 

[oceanists]

Urchins are known for eating coraline

 

[poniegirl]

Coraline algae is benficial in the sense that erosion of live rock is inhibited by it. It can be the glue that holds things together. The things we do to our tanks can be harsh and erosion is a fact of life in any ecosystem.
Chances are it won't grow in the dark, so the LR can breathe still, where the light doesn't reach.
It also produces it's own calcium source. It seeds itself in a healthy tank. High phosphates inhibit growth. Also over-fed tanks will not see the growth, so I think nitrates are also an inhibitor.
Considering the list of things that will stop it, IMO, it seems like a healthy tank will grow it and maintain it at the correct rate.

 

[sharkbait9]

Originally Posted by PonieGirl
Coraline algae is benficial in the sense that erosion of live rock is inhibited by it. It can be the glue that holds things together. The things we do to our tanks can be harsh and erosion is a fact of life in any ecosystem.
Chances are it won't grow in the dark, so the LR can breathe still, where the light doesn't reach.
It also produces it's own calcium source. It seeds itself in a healthy tank. High phosphates inhibit growth. Also over-fed tanks will not see the growth, so I think nitrates are also an inhibitor.
Considering the list of things that will stop it, IMO, it seems like a healthy tank will grow it and maintain it at the correct rate.
Coralline grows in low light areas and spreads to higher light areas, hence coralline breaking/wearing down power heads.

 

[poniegirl]

Originally Posted by sharkbait9
Coralline grows in low light areas and spreads to higher light areas, hence coralline breaking/wearing down power heads.
Apologies, I totally disagree. As I look at my own tank I see not only very little CA (coraline algae) in the darker areas, almost nil.
Powerheads are not generally kept in low light areas, are they?