Coralline Algae???

lime · 01-25-2002, 08:08 PM

I have my tank for about 9 mos. already and I have not seen any growth of this purple coralline algae, My tank is a 15g and 1 18w white and 1 18w blue PC, about 15 lbs of LR, a colt coral, button polyps, cup coral, mushrooms, caulerpa, Flower anemone, 3 Hermits, a pair of tomato clowns, 3" LS. My water parameters are good. How can I make this purple stuff grow in my tank, I think it is nice to look at this stuff not like my bare LR. Would somoene pls. educate me on this subject. A begginer with a lot of things need to be learn still. Thanks.....

Picture of my tank 3 mos. ago, still the same except for the added corals.

mojoreef · 01-25-2002, 08:32 PM

Hey lime. Nice tank by the way. by looking at your tank I cant see any corraline what so ever. In order for corraline to grow thier must be some in your tank to start off with (to seed it if you will). If thier is none present, try going to your LFS and ask them to scape some off one of thier rocks so you can seed your tank. Also coraline needs to have a good level of Calcium present, so test for it you should be in the 400-450 for coraline to grow well.

Mike

The Shroom Meister · 01-26-2002, 09:21 AM

Ditto, not only does coralline needs a stable level of calcium betwen400-450, it requires stable levels across the board and suffient lighting.

Just curious, on my monitor it looks like you have all base rock.
Is that true.

Brooke · 01-26-2002, 11:40 AM

Also make sure your alk is good and high...around 10-12 dkh. Seachem has a calcium supplement with magnesium and strontium that might help. But, like mike mentions you have to have some coralline in there to give it a good start!

HTH-
Brooke

Alice · 01-26-2002, 11:52 AM

Light is not necessarily the trigger. Different species of coraline algae grow in different light levels. When tanks have undergone a dramatic change in available lighting, usually the species that had been dominant will die back and hopefully a new one will take its place that is able to make use of the different lighting.

It's also sometimes difficult to get the coraline seeded, but you'll need to find a source so you can give it a try!

Alice

lime · 01-26-2002, 12:09 PM

I bought the rocks in my LFS, they told me that it is cured live rock and it was $6.99 a #. They told me that there is a lot of life on those rocks, well there was a lot of live small critters and I saw a bristtle worm or 2 but that was it nothing grew out of the rocks.

GaryG · 01-26-2002, 12:30 PM

It's hard to tell for sure from a picture, but .... it looks to me like you got taken on that rock. It does not look like live rock.

lime · 01-30-2002, 09:53 PM

I went to all my LFS and ask them for any coralline algae but all of their tank did not have any except for 1 store. I ask the owner if I could buy a small rock or even scrape me a little of the coralline algae from the glass from his tank but he said it is not for sale. I have been in almost all (50 mile radius) fish store around our town but with no luck. Is there anybody willing to send me some coraline or anybody live close to Modesto. I have only a small tank (15g.). Thanks.!!! Here is a new picture of my tank with new corals( green star polyps, colt coral and some button polyps).

tdwyatt · 01-31-2002, 08:43 AM

Quote:

I have been in almost all (50 mile radius) fish store around our town but with no luck. Is there anybody willing to send me some coraline or anybody live close to Modesto. I have only a small tank (15g.)

Send me you home address, I will send you a ton of scrapings, my sump is covered end to end...

lime · 01-31-2002, 11:00 AM

Thanks tdwyatt. I just sent you my address and would really hope this would work out. You're the MAN!!!!

patywagn · 01-31-2002, 11:47 AM

Where is modesto do you live. I live in Tracy not far away. Patti

lime · 01-31-2002, 01:24 PM

I live in SW Modesto, about 45 min. to an hour away. Is there any good Fish store in Tracy?

patywagn · 01-31-2002, 01:27 PM

I like to go to twins aquarium im stockton by costco and Aquarium Concepts in Hayward. That is a really good one. they even have an arch over the door with fish in it. We have one in town but it is not doing well right now. Reef stuff looks bad. Where in Modesto do you go?

lime · 01-31-2002, 01:37 PM

There are 2 fish store here in Modesto that sells SW fish. Tropical Haven on Brigsmore Ave. and the other one is pets choice on Tully Rd. Tropical haven is much more cheaper, I've been there on both store and they have very nice large corals.

Emprr_Angl · 01-31-2002, 02:11 PM

>about 15 lbs of LR, a colt coral, button polyps, cup coral, >mushrooms, caulerpa, Flower anemone, 3 Hermits, a pair of >tomato clowns, 3" LS.
>

What kind of hermits?

If theyre of blue-legged or the red-leged variety then that could be a major culprit. they have a track record of eating coralline algae.
-C