Nate July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 (edited) Don't laugh...for the life of me I cannot grow coralline algae. My rocks have plenty of coralline on them from my last tank. Since I setup my 120 over a year ago, the coralline has stopped growing. Its still alive on the rocks but has lost some color and isn't spreading. My tank walls have absolutely no coralline. (PAUSE) I know what everyone is thinking... "Nate, you are so lucky." I happen to love the deep purple when it spreads all over the rock. Here are the water conditions which have been stable for a year or so: Salinity 1.026 Calcium 430ppm Alk 9-10 dKH Mag 13500ppm I just recently removed the 3 gallons of bioballs that I had in my my sump becuase of a cyano issue. Not sure if this was affecting the coralline. I do water changes 2-4 times per month. I use 2 250 watt halides. My tank consists mainly of sps and all my corals have excellent color and growth....So what am I missing here..Why don't I have coralline. Edited July 8, 2009 by Nate
zoozilla July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 (edited) Looks like the levels (Salinity, Ca, Alk, Mag) you've listed are normal. What's the PH? 1) Check PO4 levels. Moderate to high levels of Phosphates inhibit coralline growth. 2) Coralline tends to prefer low to moderate lighting. What is your lighting schedule with the Halides? Possibly cutting back on photo periods may help? Edited July 8, 2009 by zoozilla
Nate July 8, 2009 Author July 8, 2009 Looks like the levels (Salinity, Ca, Alk, Mag) you've listed are normal. 1) Check PO4 levels. Moderate to high levels of Phosphates have a negative impact on coralline growth. 2) Coralline tends to prefer low to moderate lighting. What is your lighting schedule with the Halides? Possibly cutting back on photo periods may help? I don't have a phosphate test kit so I am not sure what my levels are at. My lights are suspended about a foot or so above the tank and the schedule is: actinics 8am-9pm, halides 10am-6pm.
jason the filter freak July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 do you have asterina stars? look like little star fish usually half the size of a dime, grey, brow, possibly "slightly" blue in color they destroy the stuff, eat it, strip it, discolor it. Coraline algea's worst nightmare
Nate July 8, 2009 Author July 8, 2009 (edited) do you have asterina stars? look like little star fish usually half the size of a dime, grey, brow, possibly "slightly" blue in color they destroy the stuff, eat it, strip it, discolor it. Coraline algea's worst nightmare Yup I know them well.. and yes I have them. However I don't think that they are the problem. Mainly because I know other members that have them and still have coralline everywhere. You know how coralline grows in little patches all over the glass...and when asterina eats it, they don't consume all of it..they just pick at it. Well I have NO coralline spots anywhere on my glass it is the cleanest glass ever...and I doubt that those little stars are cleaning every single spot of coralline that grows. My problem isn't that I am losing coralline from pests but that I just can't get it to grow at all. Edited July 8, 2009 by Nate
flowerseller July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 Salinity 1.026Calcium 430ppm Alk 9-10 dKH Mag 13500ppm I just recently removed the 3 gallons of bioballs that I had in my my sump becuase of a cyano issue. Not sure if this was affecting the coralline. I do water changes 2-4 times per month. I use 2 250 watt halides. My tank consists mainly of sps and all my corals have excellent color and growth....So what am I missing here..Why don't I have coralline. The Mg seems a little high to me.
Almon July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 Calcium 430ppmAlk 9-10 dKH Mag 13500ppm I suspect it's these components. Their values are probably lower than you think, especially the Mg. Test kit readings can drastically vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, from batch to batch, even from consumer to consumer. What do you use for a Magnesium supplement? Bump up your Mg levels and you will see coraline grow. If you need a Magnesium supplement kit, I have one. Makes 10 gallons.
Nate July 8, 2009 Author July 8, 2009 I suspect it's these components. Their values are probably lower than you think, especially the Mg. Test kit readings can drastically vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, from batch to batch, even from consumer to consumer. What do you use for a Magnesium supplement? Bump up your Mg levels and you will see coraline grow. If you need a Magnesium supplement kit, I have one. Makes 10 gallons. Almon, I am using a Salifert Magnesium test kit. What level do you think I should raise it to? I have a bunch of magnesium from bulk reef supply. Right now the mag is at 1500ppm or so. I put 1350 down because that is the level the tank has been at for the last year.
Almon July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 Almon, I am using a Salifert Magnesium test kit. What level do you think I should raise it to? I have a bunch of magnesium from bulk reef supply. Right now the mag is at 1500ppm or so. I put 1350 down because that is the level the tank has been at for the last year. 1500 is plenty high, if it is really 1500. I also use Salifert, but you can't consider test kit readings to be absolutely accurate. Use them as a tool. I'll ask another question, because I still think it is Ca,Alk,Mg. How do you supplement the Magnesium (Chloride) from BRK? And, how do you supplement Calcium and Carbonates? Two-part? Using Calcium Chloride?
Nate July 8, 2009 Author July 8, 2009 1500 is plenty high, if it is really 1500. I also use Salifert, but you can't consider test kit readings to be absolutely accurate. Use them as a tool. I'll ask another question, because I still think it is Ca,Alk,Mg. How do you supplement the Magnesium (Chloride) from BRK? And, how do you supplement Calcium and Carbonates? Two-part? Using Calcium Chloride? Yup I just started using Bulk Reef Supply 2-part (calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, and their magnesium chloride/magnesium sulfate mix). Up until 3 months ago I used Seachem Reef Complete for calcium, Kent Tech M for magnesium, and Seachem Reef Buffer for ph and alk.
zygote2k July 8, 2009 July 8, 2009 need some Purple-Up? I have an extra gallon... works like a charm.
Nate July 8, 2009 Author July 8, 2009 (edited) need some Purple-Up? I have an extra gallon...works like a charm. Isn't purple-up just calcium with some some iodine mixed in? I have some but stopped using it a while back. Maybe my coralline is all dead and that is why its not growing...Does anyone have a rock covered in some nice coralline that I could borrow or buy to try reseeding the tank? Edited July 8, 2009 by Nate
Almon July 9, 2009 July 9, 2009 Yup I just started using Bulk Reef Supply 2-part (calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, and their magnesium chloride/magnesium sulfate mix). Up until 3 months ago I used Seachem Reef Complete for calcium, Kent Tech M for magnesium, and Seachem Reef Buffer for ph and alk. That all sounds sufficient. Seachem is good stuff too, although I've heard Kent products are quite diluted. If PurpleUp works, then it's clear that the levels are low. Have someone else test your water with their test kits. I have way too much coraline. I can scrape it off the wall and give you a container with massive amounts.
Nate July 9, 2009 Author July 9, 2009 That all sounds sufficient. Seachem is good stuff too, although I've heard Kent products are quite diluted. If PurpleUp works, then it's clear that the levels are low. Have someone else test your water with their test kits. I have way too much coraline. I can scrape it off the wall and give you a container with massive amounts. I might have to take you up on that..only if you can manage to scrape more coralline than bubble algae and aptasia...ha ha.
Larry Grenier July 9, 2009 July 9, 2009 (edited) One piece to the puzzle is still missing... I use 2 250 watt halides You didn't say what the spectrum is. I moved a few rocks full of corraline and shrooms ftom a lightly lit tank to my DT (on the same sump) and the purple coraline is fading to faint pink and less of it and the shrooms are shriveling-up and that was 3 months ago. SPS show good growth but poorer color. I have T-5s and I'm going to swap at-least 1 10K for an actinic. Just a thought Edited July 9, 2009 by Larry Grenier
Nate July 9, 2009 Author July 9, 2009 One piece to the puzzle is still missing... You didn't say what the spectrum is. I moved a few rocks full of corraline and shrooms ftom a lightly lit tank to my DT (on the same sump) and the purple coraline is fading to faint pink and less of it and the shrooms are shriveling-up and that was 3 months ago. SPS show good growth but poorer color. I have T-5s and I'm going to swap at-least 1 10K for an actinic. Just a thought I am running (2) 14k Phoenix 250watt DE bulbs on a Current fixture that is supplemented by (4) 54watt actinic bulbs.
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