coralline growth slowdown--any ideas?

Jessezm · 03-21-2005, 11:11 AM

My tank has been up and running for about 3 1/2 months now. I started getting some good coralline growth on loc-line returns and on the corner overflows about two months ago, but it doesn't seem to be growing much anymore. Any ideas on why that would be? I have a CR-3 calcium reactor, and the CA levels have been hovering around 470ppm, with Alk at about 13 dkh, and pH at 8.3/day and 8.2/night. There doesn't seem to be any coralline advancing on the rock.

Does Cyano or other nuissance algae inhibit coralline growth? I'm trying to get a Cyano bloom under control.

Thanks,
--Jesse

washowi · 03-21-2005, 11:21 AM

I add strontium every 3 days. This helps, I also use A & B. Others may not agree, buy my tank is doing wonders by using these additives.

Todd

h2ohno · 03-21-2005, 11:37 AM

Magnesium may be the answer to your question. Your Mg levels should stay around 1250 mg/l. This is a sometimes looked over trace element but it works very well for establishing calcareous algae.

Jessezm · 03-21-2005, 12:13 PM

Those are both additives I don't test for (can't afford the test kits--lately there are too many other essentials I've needed to purchase, like food, a new pump, a new car...). I have been under the assumption that with bi- or tri-weekly, 20% water changes w/ Kent salt, I was replacing all the necessary elements. I will definitely look into these additives. Anyone want to come over and test my water??? I'll cook you dinner and let you change my baby's dirty diapers!

h2ohno · 03-21-2005, 12:20 PM

remember that if your tank runs over 76 degrees you don't need the strontium because corals do not utilize it. Magnesium can be dosed regularly if waterchanges are done to ensure that it doesn't build up in your system

Loverotties · 03-21-2005, 12:39 PM

Iodine helps.There's a product out there called Purple up!Made to help it grow check it out.

wildemon · 03-21-2005, 01:15 PM

There may be no connection, but after I doubled my lighting in January, the coralline quit. Calcium parameters essentially the same as yours. Keeping a log on what I do or add is critical with my poor memory to figure out answers to this kind of question.

Jessezm · 03-21-2005, 04:03 PM

Well, I had noted light inhibition in my 7 gallon tank (at around 20watts/gallon), but I haven't changed anything with regard to lighting since the coralline seamed to be taking off. In fact, where I noticed the slow down first was in the refugium, which only gets 96watts over 50 gallons.

I do dose a little iodine from time to time (usually a bit weekly)--sometimes with logul's and sometime with seachem iodide and sometimes with Kent iodine.

BTW, keeping a log is great idea! I haven't started one yet in anticipation of being made fun of by my wife and all her friends, who seem to know too much about my reef obsession... maybe I'll pretend to start a journal so she won't know what I'm doing...

washowi · 03-21-2005, 05:45 PM

I never heard of Stontium over 76 degrees, corals will not use it. I am crying Foul!

All Reef tanks run over 78 to 82 degrees. So with that statement, Stontium is never needed or used. I am assuming a fish only tank will use it because there are no corals?

Todd

Kevin1000 · 03-21-2005, 06:01 PM

My 02

If you have cyano .. then you have a phosphate problem ... coralline doesn't like phosphate.

Ray1214 · 03-22-2005, 10:46 AM

I have been adding magnesium salt based on Jenn M's suggestion about 2 years ago. I have coralline algaes out the wazoo. I keep my Calcium around 400 ppm. Only issue I have Is that it is awful hard to scrape off sometimes. My seahorse tanks have less calcium but plenty of growth.