View Full Version : coraline algae won't grow????
RPetty
12-08-2007, 2:28 AM
I can't seem to get my coraline algae to spread. I have several pieces of LR and my water parameters have been great and constant for about two months now yet still no new growth. I add purple up about twice a week, and use RO/DI water with reef crystals salt.
parameters:
sal- 1.025
ph- 8.1
temp- 76 F
ammonia- 0ppm
nitrite- 0ppm
nitrate- <5ppm
phos- <5ppm
ca- 400ppm-420ppm
I have to scrape my glass about twice a week because of the brown algae build-up, but i never see any purple. Please help and tell me what I'm doing wrong.:help:
schigara
12-08-2007, 5:05 AM
Depends on how much LR you started with and how much coralline was on that rock. You state CA level is between 400-420........what is the alk and mag level?
If you have a piece of rock that is really covered in coralline, turn off pumps, scrape the rock with a knife or metal brush and let the scrapings settle on the rock and wherever it may land and leave the skimmer and powerheads off for an hour or so. Direct a powerhead right at a rock that is densely populated in coralline for it to blow spores around the tank. I have read that urchins and Mexican red legged hermit crabs can really eat a lot of coralline and prohibit new growth.
One more small thing helps with coralline................TIME. Some have it growing great in the first month after cycle but most it takes 4-6 months to really get going
RPetty
12-08-2007, 6:40 AM
Maybe my hermits are eating it all... I will pull them out for a while and see what happens.
In addition I think I will add some more LR this weekend, 100lbs isn't enough for my tank. Maybe I just don't have enough.
nycsicktank
12-08-2007, 7:45 AM
you need atleast 150lbs
within a month i see my coraline algae growing all over the rocks
You have 2 urchins...so along with needing more time, they could be eating it as they are known to do.
RPetty
12-08-2007, 9:21 AM
You have 2 urchins...so along with needing more time, they could be eating it as they are known to do.
your probably right... they hardly leave the glass but when they do i'm sure they fill their guts....
most of my hermits are covered in coralline so today i think i will try and kill my flow and scrape as much off of them that I can. Maybe that will speed up the spreading.
I'd also want to know what your dkh and mg levels are as Schi mentioned.
RPetty
12-08-2007, 9:41 AM
I'd also want to know what your dkh and mg levels are as Schi mentioned.
i've never tested for them, i guess i should go to my LFS and get some test kits. I just assumed sence my ca is always in spec that my alk and mag were aswell. the purple up adds all three i believe.
I'll have to dig out my notes, but the marine biologist that has spoken for our club explained why Purple Up could do more harm than good. I think it had to do with the type of Ca that it added. I'm not sure but I think he said that it wasn't calcium carbonate.
RPetty
12-08-2007, 9:54 AM
wow.... i would definately like to know more... i would hate to know that for the last few months i have been adding something that is useless. Grins please follow up...
RPetty
12-08-2007, 9:54 AM
:help:
clown-lover
12-08-2007, 10:40 AM
I agree with Grins, 1) your urchins are known for eating coraline algae 2) coraline is dependant on a good Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity Balanace.
Coraline has taken off in my system but you have to be patient. It doesn't grow fast at all. All I have done in my own system is made sure my parameters are in line with recommendations and it grows on its own.. I have never added Purple Up or any of those products as I have read that they can be more detrimental to a system than anything else. The only think I do is dose a 2 part b-ionic calcium, alkalinity solutions and maintain my water changes..
Here are some before and current pictures.. 1st one is last march the last one is within the last month.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x49/tarax_photos/Fish/100_0198.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x49/tarax_photos/Fish/100_0897.jpg
Catpicklesdog
12-08-2007, 11:34 AM
As requested by the others I'd like to know you readings for your magnesium and alkanlinity. I have a collector urchin and in the past I had a long-spine Urchin, yes they may eat the corraline algae but not so that I would notice. I even have it growing in my skimmer!!!!
schigara
12-08-2007, 11:52 AM
This excerpt is from a site where the author discusses indepth the growth and inhibiting factors for coralline.
"This close-up of a nearly 3 year old reef tank also has a dominant gray-green look on the live rock.
*****(The reef aquariums above are all dosed with the same top rated additives to provide trace elements, vitamins, calcium, magnesium, strontium, and elevated pH and KH. These are ideal conditions for growing coralline algae! Puzzled??? What else do these reef tanks have in common? They each have a good number of Mexican red leg blue spot hermit crabs which not only help clean the tanks of undesirable algae, but also eat coralline algae. The hermit crab Clibanarius digueti from the Mexico area is a coralline algae eater, and is only one of many varieties of hermit crabs called "red leg hermit crabs". Two of the "red leg" hermit crabs from the Sea of Cortez, AKA Gulf of California, have big appetites for coralline algae, C. digueti is the most common one sold."
Complete Article:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/6279/RaiseCementRock.html
Grins
12-08-2007, 12:05 PM
I can't find my notes but I'm thinking some of the cons were the type of calicum it added and the fact that many of the elements can be easily overdosed and are often ones people don't test for.
I don't test for iodine or strontium for example. If I were to dose with them (and Purple-Up includes them both) it could have a lethal effect on my corals, clams, etc. I've also heard many reports of it throwing the pH way off and the Mg going to high which in turn will interfere with calicum carbonate.
it adds iodine (which can be easily overdosed, especially if not testing for it)
it adds strontium (again most don't test for this)
it can often cause the pH to be way off
it can often cause the Mg to be too high (which will interfere with calcicum)
ooja3k
12-08-2007, 2:05 PM
I would say just wait... The more coralline that grows, the more spores that will be released and it will grow exponentially fast...
I would say lighting "can" play a role. At least in my tank, i have an egg-crate top, with most of the middle cut out... The edges still block a little bit of light... But i have found that this edge slightly shades the top 3" or so of the back and side glass walls of the tank, and so far no coralline has grown above this.
As stated many times above, Purple Up = Bad
Optimum calc, alk, and mag levels = good.
RPetty
12-09-2007, 12:38 AM
thank you everyone for your help. i am going to start testing for alk and mag as well as ca... and maybe add just these elements when needed. i think i will throw the purple-up in the trash... and on a side note!!! i just ordered my new light today so maybe this will help with growth in the tank. i know my polyps will love it.
i ordered the 72" outer orbit MH 3x150 w/4 pc actinics. total watts about 800. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+12779&pcatid=12779
I am really excited about the new light and can't wait to get it in. it should be here by Fri. :headbang2:
I don't know anything about lights but that one looks really SWEET!!!!!!!!!! :headbang2: