problem growing coralline algae

[king_nothing_]

unfortunately i have no idea how to upload pics to this site...so im gonna have to try to explain it.
ive got 4X 54w T5(HO) over my 75g tank. I've have the same live rock in there for over 6 months, and i have literally zero purple on my rocks. I dose liquid calcium and my calcium levels are always like 420-460. nitrates under 10. i water change 20% once a month, ph 8.0-8.2
any suggestions?

 

[novahobbies]

did the rock have any coralline to begin with? Ya gotta have coralline to grow coralline.

 

[geoj]

Test Iodide
I assume there is some in the tank and you do not really have zero coralline algae?

 

[scubachris]

Could be a phosphate problem. I added a pouch to my filter that lowers the phosphates. Within days I began to see purple growing. When I took it out for about a week the growth seemed to stop almost immediately. Just a guess.

 

[veni vidi vici]

Check your alkalinity .It ideally should be around 3.5- 4.0 meq/l
Coraline Algae needs a few things to grow,2 of the big ones are calcium and alkalinity

 

[zoie2]

Do you use R.O. water?

 

[woody189]

Originally Posted by Veni Vidi Vici
http:///forum/post/2949405
Check your alkalinity .It ideally should be around 3.5- 4.0 meq/l
Coraline Algae needs a few things to grow,2 of the big ones are calcium and alkalinity
Yea, that's what I keep being told also.
There's a chart that says the amount of Alk you need to have w/ each level of Ca. I THINK Mg may be important too, but i'm not sure.

 

[drtito]

Originally Posted by novahobbies
http:///forum/post/2949297
did the rock have any coralline to begin with? Ya gotta have coralline to grow coralline.
I put a piece with loads of coralline in front of the power head Its bin about 9 months a I have purple spots here and there. It takes a long time then you get a rash, J/K.

 

[kssalah]

I would check mag levels as well. I know it can cause false cal readings. I personally am a fan of purple up. Granted you have to have coraline to grow it. Have you asked your LFS to scrape some off for you? or maybe even another hobbiest? If you can't get any from somewhere local I would be willing to scrap some and ship it to you if you want to pay shipping. I've been using purple up since i started my tank and have it covering 95% of my back glass. There are many things that could be happening here. If I can help anymore just PM me. Best of luck to you.

 

[nigerbang]

Scrub some of the spores off with a toothbrush into the water.. BAM it will grow.. I hate the damn stuff..