Setting the stage for coralline algae

Shobloth · 05/17/2020, 02:43 PM

3 days in, virgin live rock. How can I provide the best environment for coralline to grow? There seems to be a big debate about supplements.

Rummil · 05/17/2020, 02:49 PM

Keeping consistent water parameters.

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Michael Hoaster · 05/17/2020, 04:22 PM

Keep calcium levels up, using a calcium reactor or kalkwasser additions.

Sugar Magnolia · 05/18/2020, 07:12 AM

Keep alk, calc and magnesium in the optimum range and the coraline will grow.

907 · 05/23/2020, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Keep alk, calc and magnesium in the optimum range and the coraline will grow.

This and don’t fall victim to coralline in a bottle products like some people

it will only drain your pocketbook. Patience and it will come, I know that’s hard when your starting cause I went through the same thing think there was a magic bullet or particular process. Stable parameters and time is all it takes.

bhazard1 · 05/23/2020, 01:52 PM

I'd seed it with a piece of live Rock that has alot of coraline growth.

Imaexpat2 · 05/28/2020, 10:17 AM

By "virgin rock" I am going to assume that you used dry rock. If this indeed is the case then you need something to seed the rock with. You can use a piece of coraline encrusted rock. Typically when I start a tank with Dry Rock I use a few pounds of Garf Grunge on top of my sand bed to provide bacteria, Coraline Algae spores among many other beneficial things. Typically in 3 months or so you should start seeing "pretty purple stuff" popping up on your rock.

To speed things up a bit....cause lets face it, the waiting is the hardest part of this hobby, there are a few things I do that have worked well for me in the past! I do not run a skimmer until I start seeing Coraline Algae on my rock work appearing. I will also boost the flow in the tank with additional power heads. I will also use a low wattage, typically a single NO T-12 or T-8 actinic only light, over the tank on an abbreviated light schedule until coraline algae is established. Once established I will start running my primary lighting set up which typically is about 12-14k ramping up the lighting period over a couple of weeks. While playing the "waiting game" I will drip Kalk Plus 2 for make up water to keep Calcium, Alk and Mag at optimum levels.

I have had some pretty solid results going this route over the years when setting up a sterile tank.

05/17/2020, 02:43 PM	#1
Shobloth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 170	Setting the stage for coralline algae 3 days in, virgin live rock. How can I provide the best environment for coralline to grow? There seems to be a big debate about supplements.

05/17/2020, 04:22 PM	#3
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Keep calcium levels up, using a calcium reactor or kalkwasser additions. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

05/18/2020, 07:12 AM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Keep alk, calc and magnesium in the optimum range and the coraline will grow. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/17/2020, 02:49 PM	#2
Rummil Registered Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 12	Keeping consistent water parameters. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/23/2020, 01:52 PM	#6
bhazard1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 51	I'd seed it with a piece of live Rock that has alot of coraline growth.

05/28/2020, 10:17 AM	#7
Imaexpat2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chagos Arch. Posts: 474	By "virgin rock" I am going to assume that you used dry rock. If this indeed is the case then you need something to seed the rock with. You can use a piece of coraline encrusted rock. Typically when I start a tank with Dry Rock I use a few pounds of Garf Grunge on top of my sand bed to provide bacteria, Coraline Algae spores among many other beneficial things. Typically in 3 months or so you should start seeing "pretty purple stuff" popping up on your rock. To speed things up a bit....cause lets face it, the waiting is the hardest part of this hobby, there are a few things I do that have worked well for me in the past! I do not run a skimmer until I start seeing Coraline Algae on my rock work appearing. I will also boost the flow in the tank with additional power heads. I will also use a low wattage, typically a single NO T-12 or T-8 actinic only light, over the tank on an abbreviated light schedule until coraline algae is established. Once established I will start running my primary lighting set up which typically is about 12-14k ramping up the lighting period over a couple of weeks. While playing the "waiting game" I will drip Kalk Plus 2 for make up water to keep Calcium, Alk and Mag at optimum levels. I have had some pretty solid results going this route over the years when setting up a sterile tank.