Is there anything I can do to stimulate coraline algea growth?

[monalisa]

When starting my tank, I started with about 20 pounds of base/dead rock and about 20 pounds of live rock total. I notice that even the dead rock has a few spots of coraline on it, but is there something that I can do to help it along? Just a shot in the dark...
Lisa :happyfish

 

[airforceb2]

Lisa,
Do you test for Calcium? If so, your coraline algae will grow the best when it is around 425-450.
You can get an additive called Purple Up...people talk about it all the time on here. Not too sure how well it works though.

 

[monalisa]

So, I do a calcium test...which I don't have now, but I will (along with phosphate testing), and my levels are off...then what? Water change, too high (which I do every week, 10%)?... what about too low? I would really like to see more purple growth.
Thanks airforce.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[airforceb2]

Haha, this was a very well debated topic today. I'd test for Ca and Alk. If they are normal, there isn't much more you can do. If they are low, I'd post where they are at and see if Mud, Bang or someone can help ya.

 

[monalisa]

So I need to test for calcium and alkaline, and I'm also looking to purchase a phosphate test (still battling hair algea...came with some of my base rock). Will do tomorrow.
Also airforce, do you know anything about Chaeto algea? I'm thinking about ordering some to put into my tank to try to battle the stuff that's keeping the hair algae alive (actually, it's really diminished quite well since the skimmer is in...love that skimmer!!!). What do you think, should I wait to see where the phosphates are before putting cheato in?
Advice always appreciated.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[airforceb2]

I'd wait and test first. That way if your phos aren't outta wack, you don't get something you don't need.

 

[reefman22]

I have some of that purple-up stuff airforce was talkin about. youre supposedly supposed to put in a capful for every 50 gallons every day. ive only been using it for 2 days (new tank) but my LFS gave me good reviews so im hoping it will kick in soon. the down side is the it makes your tank a little cloudy for a couple hours (depending on your powerheads etc.) so you can get some of that if u want it was $17 for 16 ounces was great (considering i only use a 1/2 capful every day - 24 gallon nano cube). so thats all the help ive got. i hope it helped.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Reefman22
I have some of that purple-up stuff airforce was talkin about. youre supposedly supposed to put in a capful for every 50 gallons every day. ive only been using it for 2 days (new tank) but my LFS gave me good reviews so im hoping it will kick in soon. the down side is the it makes your tank a little cloudy for a couple hours (depending on your powerheads etc.) so you can get some of that if u want it was $17 for 16 ounces was great (considering i only use a 1/2 capful every day - 24 gallon nano cube). so thats all the help ive got. i hope it helped.

...And something like that isn't going to harm my inhabitants? Adding stuff to my tank...very hesitant until I know, especially from this site, that it's ok..just need some reassurance, please. Reefman, what kind of powerheads are you running? I've got Maxi-jet 600's (2) - 160gph, but I've also got my whisper filter running at 240gph and the powerhead from my skimmer runs at 290gph. Is that enough?
Thanks!!!
Lisa :happyfish

 

[birdy]

Best thing to grow coralline is having pH, alk, and Ca in the proper levels. Also the spectrum of your bulbs and what type of lighting you have is a factor also, coralline seems to grow best with lots of Actinic lighting, some say MH seem to inhibit growth a bit. Good flow and some starter coralline (some LR with growth already or a scraping from someones tank) and it should start growing.
If you are having trouble with Phosphates and hair algae then you should get a phosphate remover and pull the the hair algea out by hand. Putting Chaeto in a refugium is a good way to naturally combat hair algea and phosphates but I wouldn't put it in my display tank.

 

[reefman22]

i just tested for Ca and it came out about 630!! thats because of the purple up. right now im cycling my nano so i have no inhabitants, but if it was recomended at my LFS, theres a very slim chance that it will harm livestock. My 24 gallon nano has a 290 GPH pump and it clears in a couple hours or so and if you have that much current, yours should clear quick. how big is your tank? I also started with live rock without coraline alge. Im lookin foreward to seeing my tank "purple-ize"

 

[birdy]

Be cautious dosing anything that raises pH, alk, Ca quickly, this can put your tank into shock and quickly kill corals once you get them in the tank. A better method is to slowly drip these supplements in your tank with a dosing system, they are easy to make if you don't have money to buy something.

 

[monalisa]

hmmm, ok, my ph is steadily at 8.2...as far as the other levels, I don't have a clue as to where they should be!! high, low...not a clue...any help here would help me out greatly...well, ok, I know that phosphates need to be low to 0. If someone could please post the levels that I'm looking for, it would be much appreciated!!
Lisa :happyfish

 

[airforceb2]

Originally Posted by Reefman22
but if it was recomended at my LFS, theres a very slim chance that it will harm livestock.

Not the case. Your LFS is a business and they are just trying to make a profit!! I wouldn't dose anything until your tank is cycled. Coraline aglae can't grow until the tank has cycled anyway.

 

[birdy]

lisa- alkalinity should be around 10dkh, Ca should be around 400-450 pH 8.3

 

[monalisa]

Thanks a lot Birdy,
Actually my ph has been steadily at about 8.4. Am I right in thinking that phosphates need to be at 0? I'll get my other tests this week. This has been really helpful.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[airforceb2]

Yes, Phos need to be at 0.

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by airforceb2
Yes, Phos need to be at 0.
They should be at 0. According to the Salifert test 0.03 is ok also. Anything over that isnt good. Mine are high right now. I think its the Prime Reef frozen food. Ive heard they could be high in phos.

 

[acrylic51]

I agree with Birdy....Get your water parameters in line and you shouldn't have a problem with coraline at all.....I do think coraline does grow better under atinic instead of MH, but that's JMO though.....I wouldn't add anything to my tank unless I tested first and then retested......
Why pay all that cash for a bottle of "stuff" that nobody knows if it really works or not....A simple way to start coraline is to get a piece of rock from a friend already covered with it and place in you tank and put in a location that get good water flow and take a new toothbrush and brush the rock, this will loosen spores and cause them to release and spread throughout the tank.....

 

[diadema]

that "stuff" is powdered aragonite...
yep - southdown...
Funny thing is - if you can find it, you can get a 50 lb back of it for like $6. That $17 for 16 ounces doesn't sound so hot now does it?

 

[traib]

I'dlike to know how to keep up with my sea urchines that eat coraline. I like to find a balance though it looks like they are winning the battle.