Question for the successful coraline algea tanks

[ilovemytank]

I've seen so many awesome tanks on this board with great coraline algea growth. What are you adding to your tank ? I have some coraline algea but nothing compared to my last tank and others I've seen. I'm using some purple up and Kent Marine Tech CB part A and part B. I want my tanks coraline growth to the point I have to scape the glass. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[-tara33-]

more info, how long has the tank been set up? whats in it? you might find that there is an urchin of some kind in there, they love eating coraline agae

 

[ilovemytank]

The tank has been set up since August of last year. It is 125 gallon and has 185 lbs live rock. I definately know everything in my tank and don't have any urchins. I do have two large emeralds crabs though. My water parameters nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, PH, always stay in the almost perfect range. My calcium I'm trying to keep at 450 ppm. I have to admit I probably don't test near as much for someone who wants a certain outcome. I had two other saltwater tanks before this one and didn't supplement anything and had too much coraline growth. Thats why I don't really understand whats going on here ? Advice please.

 

[dragonzim]

Do you have any coraline at all in there? Its doesnt just show up magically. You need to have a source of it first to get any in the tank. If you have any at all on your rocks you can go in there with a new toothbrush and scrub it a little to get it to release spores into the water. These should settle and start growing.
I dont supplement anything, I just make sure to do water changes on a regular basis. I use Reef Crystals and I have found that the calcium levels in it give me fine growth results.
Patience is another huge thing. I've had my tank set up for over 3 years now and for at least the first year there wasnt that much growth.
What kind of lights do you have?

 

[maryg]

I have a 29 gallon with 30 lbs of good premium rock that is a beautiful purple and I have some green also. I used the Kent marine reef starter kit. The tank has only been going for about 2 and a half months and I am getting some nice coraline on my powerheads and the back glass. I keep the sides and front clean. I also started the tank with Oceanic salt which I hear has good trace elements in it as well.

 

[dennis210]

Post mentions 2 part addative and you state 450 Ca goal - What is ALK?
Also how many watts and what type of lighting. If you lift a rock do you notice the underside starting to color up?
If you have a mature tank with proper chemistry and a source of coraline
( a rock not and addative) you will spread. Try this, make sure all parameters are in line, start test weekly until you predict correctly what your readings are going to be, start with regular water changes of say 20 gals a month minimum, and unce you have done that go buy a piece of premium live rock. Lots of purple, marroon, even orange and yellow coralline growth on it.
Place it in your tank where a powerhead can move water across it all the time. Now don't blast it inches away. In short order you will be scraping your glass too!
Dennis

 

[ilovemytank]

Ok. I currently have a little growth but its not spreading. I've attached a few pictures. I do a once a month water change of 35 gallons mixed with reef crystals. My alkalinity stays at approx. 1.5. I will try the tooth brush scrubbing, I wasn't aware that this would help. I have real good water flow in the tank with out any direct blowing on the rocks. I have three 3.5' double accents VHO 20,000 K lights. they have slight areas where they over lap. The lights are in the top of the canopy though which is 15" above the water . The water depth is 20" moe. So they do have to go a total of 35" of light. Whats next ?

 

[ilovemytank]

bump

 

[tpigg81]

Had similar prob in my tank. My water paramaters were good. Coraline was growing very slowly for first 8 mo. Had used some purple up for a while without much growth. Started dosing alk and calc to keep them up. Then I added another powerhead and shortly thereafter I could notice changes in growth every water change. I believe the added flow made the biggest difference.

 

[ilovemytank]

Is higher alk better for the growth ? Mines on the low side.

 

[zanoshanox]

Yeah ^
Ive had several nanos with softies and what not with a lot less flow and hardly any coraline growth. However when I set up my 65 for SPS mith mag 9 and 2 seios there was a ton of flow and i saw a lot of coraline growth as soon as I set up the tank.