SPS, Clams and coralline algae

Sea monkey · 08-10-2006, 11:28 AM

So i added some clams and SPS to my tank while ago and never really did anything to supplement calcium for them other than kalk. I was having ridiculous coralline growth where id have to scrap sheets of purple off the glass every month or two. I kinda expected this to slow down as the clams and sps compete for the calcium but what happened is not only has the coralline stopped growing but it is disappearing off the glass. This pretty normal ? SPS seems to be growing well .

mattb · 08-10-2006, 11:34 AM

Check your calcium... they are competing with the sps and clams, most often coralline seems to lose this battle. I've experienced this as well. As long as Ca and Mg are good, should be "normal".

Sea monkey · 08-10-2006, 11:44 AM

Guess I expected it to grow slower not actually quit growing and start to recede : )

guess maybe its time to try the two part.

goetzc · 08-10-2006, 11:45 AM

Quick! Give me all your clams and that should save the coralline algae...
and you probably should throw in that torch too, just in case.

Chris

Boker420 · 08-10-2006, 11:52 AM

Did you upgrade your lighting or lengthen your light cycle? I have 2 400w halides and i never had any coralline growth until I went from 8-9 hours of light down to 5-6 and then the coralline growth went crazy.
My actinics were old so I stopped using them until I can afford new ones so I increased the time of my halides being on. I don't know forsure if it was that or something unknown but my coralline started to recede. I just realized maybe it was my lights and put them back to 5-6 hours so I'll have to wait and see if that is the problem. Let me know if you find out forsure what it is.
Bill

Sea monkey · 08-10-2006, 12:12 PM

ya i changed to the t'5s

the back of my tank used to be one thick sheet of purple and now it almost has none ... To be honest I'm not all that worried about it . it was more of a pain in the butt than anything ...

David Grigor · 08-10-2006, 12:44 PM

I think it's more due to lights than the clams. My experience with T5s coraline doesn't grow as well as with VHOs for example.

borgy · 08-10-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goetzc

Quick! Give me all your clams and that should save the coralline algae...
and you probably should throw in that torch too, just in case.

Chris

Tutmos · 08-10-2006, 02:05 PM

Actually I've seen alk levels cause that. I wasn't getting any real coralline growth for years and then bumped my alkalinity up to 8 and it started growing all over the place. No other variable was changed. My alk always used to sit low at about 7 or so.

Twins Guy · 08-10-2006, 02:06 PM

hey ryan-have you checked your calcium and alk? i know when my kalk reactor needs a refill the coralline stagnates and even recedes (circular plaques on the glass develop central clearings). and if i check the calcium level its low.
tg

Sea monkey · 08-10-2006, 02:10 PM

im sure it's low . guess ill have to check ; )