purple is the color~!
- Thread starter nycfatcow
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
ironmanxl1
Aquarium Advice Regular
its coraline algae. If you introduce something with the algae on it like live rock, it just spreads by itself.
haus
Aquarium Advice Freak
I've heard good things about "purple-up", but I don't like to add chemicals to my tank, so I can't say from experience. You could look around for LR that has good coraline growth on it and place it in your tank. I have heard that LR.com sells good LR for coraline, but again, no personal experience.
Make sure your doing small frequent water changes. At least fifteen percent at least once a week. A good salt mix will replenish the needed levels to grow Coraline.
When doing tank maintenance, and providing you have some rock with a little Coraline on it, scratch at it with your thumb nail here and there to spread the spores.
I have also had an lfs tell me to add a small urchin to the tank. They will feed on Coraline but in the process break lose and spread spores and actually contribute to its spread. I do not however know how sound this advice is and would think that in the absence or easier alga's for the urchin to eat your Coraline could disappear pretty quickly.
When doing tank maintenance, and providing you have some rock with a little Coraline on it, scratch at it with your thumb nail here and there to spread the spores.
I have also had an lfs tell me to add a small urchin to the tank. They will feed on Coraline but in the process break lose and spread spores and actually contribute to its spread. I do not however know how sound this advice is and would think that in the absence or easier alga's for the urchin to eat your Coraline could disappear pretty quickly.
lando
Aquarium Advice Addict
the best way to get coraline algae to grow is to introduce it. check out www.garf.org for mail order coraline. You can also get some nice incrusted LR from the LFS to help. To an extent, good lighting will help this algae to grow but, as mentioned, the proper ALK/CA levels are most important.
Brenden
Aquarium Advice Addict
When I first started my tank I asked about purple up etc. Most everyone told me not to waste my money. Now as I scrape it off my acrylic constantly I am glad I took their advise. As Lando said " proper ALK/CA levels are most important."
hmm the thing is, its not like i dont have any purp at all, its just that they are very very lil purp dots. I see your tanks like filled with purp!!! its crazy my tank is still white compared to you guys..maybe i should put up pics. let me try to.
Brenden
Aquarium Advice Addict
Purple dots are all you need. Just as long as you have a start. Now work on getting your water parameters correct. What kind of lighting do you have?
Brenden
Aquarium Advice Addict
Lghting looks fine. Have you checked your Ca/ Alk? If they are good just give it a little time.
MT79
Aquarium Advice Addict
Regular PWC's should keep your Ca/Alk at a decent level, assuming you don't have any Ca/Alk demanding corals, etc. FWIW Some salt mixes have better Ca/Alk ratios than others. HTH
ironmanxl1
Aquarium Advice Regular
I havent done a thing and my coraline grows great. I've had the tank for about 6 mos now and there is coraline everywhere. I do water changes about once a month and have regular old flourescent lighting. The only chemical I add is Kents essential elements but I dunno if that does anything or not :?
DennisG
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
It is really worth investing in a set of test kits, IMHO. When I got my first saltwater tank started, and bought test kits a few days later, my Ca++ level was at 240 mg/L (ppm). I stopped using that brand of salt since then, and was able to correct the problem fairly quickly, but if you do not test for it you will never know. Besides, a $10 kit will get you 50 tests or so - good for a year or more.
