Why isn't my coraline algae growing!

Timbits · #1 03-01-2012, 03:34 AM

So I have a 40 breeder mixed reef, mostly LPS, zoas, palys, softies, and a few sps. I have around 50 lbs live rock i think and 50 lbs live sand. Tank has been running for around 5 months.

I haven't had any coraline algae growing since my tank was set-up. My rocks look so ugly! Rocks look pretty much the same as when i introduced it to the tank and no coraline algae growing on the glass! Added some coral with coraline algae that covered the rock it was on but it seems that they are fading away.

Don't really know what's going on. I really want the coraline algae to cover my rocks, they look so bare and ugly. Checked my calcium and alk and ph and everything was good with calcium maintaining at 440.

I know my tank is a bit new but i thought coraline algae grew faster than this. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? Thanks.

jtbadco · #2 03-01-2012, 04:14 AM

IME it tends to catch on quicker if you add pieces of LR that already have coraline on it.

I also used a product called Purple Up to encourage growth. I believe it adds other elements that are necessary or helpful in growing coraline. It worked in my first tank.

lockrookie · #3 03-01-2012, 04:31 AM

my 90 has been running 3 years and noto all the rocks have corline on them and i used 3 bottles of purple up... it takes time and patience.

Reef-Geek · #4 03-01-2012, 05:23 AM

did you test KH? I used to have the same problem and when I start dose 2 part the problem is solved

FragIt Dan · #5 03-01-2012, 07:05 AM

I observe the best coralline growth under high flow and lower fluorescent light. A couple of brands/color temperature combinations of HQI bulbs have strongly inhibited coralline growth in my tanks. I could see the algae surviving where it was shadowed from the lights and see it bleached out where it was exposed. Silt will also inhibit growth. Try getting a clean turkey Baster and jetting some water on your rocks. If silt blows off of them you will probably have problems growing coralline in that location due to low flow. Having said that, I also get good coralline growth under my Hamilton 250w14K and Phoenix 250w14K bulbs, but more so in higher current areas.

FragIt Dan

Money pit · #6 03-01-2012, 09:37 AM

I get good growth also using Phoenix 14k bulbs. You could try crushing some Coraline and putting it into a high flow area to get it to seed other areas of the tank.

Timbits · #7 03-01-2012, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtbadco

IME it tends to catch on quicker if you add pieces of LR that already have coraline on it.

I also used a product called Purple Up to encourage growth. I believe it adds other elements that are necessary or helpful in growing coraline. It worked in my first tank.

I've heard of this product... how effective is it?

Timbits · #8 03-01-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shingo43

did you test KH? I used to have the same problem and when I start dose 2 part the problem is solved

Yes, KH is good. what did you dose to fix the problem? was your KH low before?

Timbits · #9 03-01-2012, 10:26 AM

So i just remembered that the rock in the tank, i got it from some guy and he told me that it was from a medicated tank.... or something like that

Would that have anything to do with it??

globaldesigns · #10 03-01-2012, 04:42 PM

Too funny, everyone wants coraline, and even buy supplements to encourage its growth. In my world, I want it gone... It is beautiful stuff, but I have a purple/red/pink and even some green, as my tank is one big purple monster. I just have too much

I even have 5 urchins that devour the stuff, as I think so much coraline is smothering my LR. They are doing a great job, but I think I need another 5 urchins.