Tips for growing coraline algae

spinylobster

spinylobster

Member
I have had live rock in my tank for over a year with coralife power compacts, just replace the bulbs, and The coraline still wont spread. Calcium is a t 520. And the rest of the tank thrives. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
 
wax32

wax32

Active Member
Well, your Ca is very high. Could be a problem. Also, believe it or not, coralline grows best in relatively low light, so if you have a LOT of PC light it could actually make it grow slower (you'd have to have a LOT).
 
spinylobster

spinylobster

Member
thanks for the advice..... dont think phosphates are high, but maybe will try running lights less. Think that will help
Thanks again
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
Just an idea, but if your calcium is that high your alk could be low causing the problem.. If not something you might consider is placing a piece of liverock with coraline in the direct flow of a power head.
 
spinylobster

spinylobster

Member
sounds good ill try that too. Like I said before,i just put 2 new 65 watt 10k's.
and 2 new 65 watt Actinics. I thought that might help, but maybe that will not.....Right????
 
anonome

anonome

Active Member
As previously stated coraline grows best in low light. I wouldn't cut the bright light out, just decrease the time of the bright lights and increase the time on the actinics. You can actually grow coraline with just actinic lighting. Double check your alk also. It should be in the 9-11 dkh range for good coraline growth. Just do more water changes, or you can also use a buffer in your top off water.
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
Balance your Alk, CA out.
CF aren't too bright. Coralline algae will grow under a variety of lights. MH, VHO, NO, Halogen 500w, 300 watt incandescent, 18 watt grow lights..
Here is a look at different lighting
Start - 500W Halogen Only

Mid 500W Halogen Only

End 500W Halogen Only

VHO 440W

MH 250W and VHO
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
Thanks -unfortunately coralline algae seems to be the only thing that I can get to consistently grow very well and fast....
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
In my experiences the best ways to get coraline algae growth is to balance ph, alkalinity, and calcium and keep them balanced (no dips or spikes). Also like Reefnut said, phosphates will kill coraline (and corals).
Phosphates are basically poisonous crystaline in a reef tank.
 
cams

cams

New Member
Originally Posted by zman1
Balance your Alk, CA out.
WOW, Z your tank looks great... now when you say balance your ALK & CA, what are good levels they should be at
Unfortunately for me, i have one nice lr that sits in the center of my tank that is covered with coraline, but the rest of my lr has barely anything on them to a tink of light pink spots..i wish all my rock looked like the middle one..
 
bacchus_fl

bacchus_fl

Member
What they have said is correct but a couple other suggestions to speed it along are to use a Kent addative called Purple Up (have not used it so I can't say how well it works) and/or scrap a section of coralline to help spread it around the tank.
 
rslinger

rslinger

Member
purple up will just screw up your cal and alk even more IMO. If you don't have any in your tank at all then find a friend and get a piece of rock that is covered and scrape it off in your tank.
 
cgrant

cgrant

Active Member
I had a hard time getting coraline to grow in my tank no matter what i tried, pc's, MH, dosing, etc.
Until I got my ca reactor and the coraline started booming, only thing i can think of is my reactor is keeping everything in check and its blooming.
 
gmford1979

gmford1979

Member
in my opinion, Purple Up works good if your calcium is low. all it really is, is calcium. i think it has some other additives in there, but for the most part, its adding calcium.
 
woody189

woody189

Member
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