Coraline algea

[Rmckoy]

How do I get coraline algae to grow ?

I bought live rocks with allot of very colorful algae but would like for it to multiply
Will it happen in time or should I be adding anything ?
Calcium , strontium .....

 

[Sniperhank]

It takes time for it to grow. Maintaining proper parameters will get it moving along. In my tank the stuff wouldn't grow for the longest time. I switched to kent salt, over io reef crystals, and this growth appears to have increased. Still a slow and steady process.

 

[Rmckoy]

It takes time for it to grow. Maintaining proper parameters will get it moving along. In my tank the stuff wouldn't grow for the longest time. I switched to kent salt, over io reef crystals, and this growth appears to have increased. Still a slow and steady process.

I was suggested to use aquavitro
Apparently it's a better quality then instant ocean or kent .
Mixing it with tap water it is a little cloudy at first but it does turn clear ,
PH and specific gravity seams to be a little easier to maintain with less shifts and swings

 

[jeffaquarius]

View attachment 170268

I was suggested to use aquavitro
Apparently it's a better quality then instant ocean or kent .
Mixing it with tap water it is a little cloudy at first but it does turn clear ,
PH and specific gravity seams to be a little easier to maintain with less shifts and swings

Good luck to your using tap water for your reef tank.

 

[bavass]

Coraline algae needs good quality water to grow. Plus proper additions of calcium, alk, and mag. When using tap water you are adding nitrates and phosphates which inhibit growth. Plus chlorine and no telling what else that comes in tap water. Best bet is to buy an RO/DI unit or it will cost you later

 

[mr_X]

Any salt mix will work. It just takes time. You can try scraping some of the coralline off of your rock and letting it blow around the tank. That will help it spread faster.

 

[Rmckoy]

Any salt mix will work. It just takes time. You can try scraping some of the coralline off of your rock and letting it blow around the tank. That will help it spread faster.

Thanks Again mr x

 

[Rmckoy]

Any salt mix will work. It just takes time. You can try scraping some of the coralline off of your rock and letting it blow around the tank. That will help it spread faster.

I'm looking at buying a tang .
Either a powder blue or a blue hippo tang .
Are they dirty or is the warning more towards them being aggressive ?
And about the sand sifting goby .
He has cleaned up everything very well ,
Be seams to be able to consume and clean up the sand faster then anything will build .
Any suggestions for feeding him to assure he is getting enough ?

 

[bavass]

I wouldn't add a tang to a tank less that 6 feet

 

[Rmckoy]

I wouldn't add a tang to a tank less that 6 feet

Does that apply to any tang ?
Are they dirty ?
What's the reasoning behind that ?

 

[bavass]

Because any thing less than a 6 ft tank they become stressed, get ich. They need a lot of room to swim. If look on liveaquaria.com most tangs require a 125, 180 and larger tanks.

 

[Rmckoy]

Because any thing less than a 6 ft tank they become stressed, get ich. They need a lot of room to swim. If look on liveaquaria.com most tangs require a 125, 180 and larger tanks.

I was reading a marine fish book that has 1000's of different species .
There requirements .
There are some that says smallest tank size is 75 gal and great for reef
But to only keep one per tank unless its a larger tank

 

[bavass]

The only Tang I know of that can require less than a 125g is the Kole Tang.

Surgeonfish: Tang Fish, Yellow Tangs and other Surgeons

Good luck!

 

[Rmckoy]

The only Tang I know of that can require less than a 125g is the Kole Tang.

Surgeonfish: Tang Fish, Yellow Tangs and other Surgeons

Good luck!

Thank you.

 

[Gregcoyote]

That my opinion too. Kole tang would be okay, but read the postings of those that brushed off the "tang police" and added tangs to a too small tank. Disease and death followed in most cases. They are herbivores and produce a lot of waste, but as to dirty? Gobies, wrasses and the like are hard to go wrong with. In the proper tank, tangs are super easy to keep, but their immune systems and easily stressed life style makes them a real problem in the wrong setting.

 

[Mr. Crabs]

Wanted to add that metal halide lighting and the "Shimmer" effect really encourages coralline algae growth. Rock with it to seed the tank is crucial as well. And keep the phosphates in check to allow it to get a foothold over nuisance algae is key.

.....and of course the one thing we can't buy, Time. I started seeing it on my glass after 6 months. Once it gets going, it keeps going and it likes plastic. But be forewarned, be careful what you wish for. Once you have it, get out the razor blade and start scraping.

 

[mr_X]

I have found that coralline algae can grow quickly in just about any light. My refugiums have turned purple as fast as my displays did, with a simple curly-q energy saver bulb.

 

[Rmckoy]

I have found that coralline algae can grow quickly in just about any light. My refugiums have turned purple as fast as my displays did, with a simple curly-q energy saver bulb.

Do I need to scrape some off the rocks or will it happen with time ?

 

[Rmckoy]

I have allot if green hairy algae growing on the rocks closest to the top .
And a little brown Algae on the power heads and skimmer box .

 

[Gregcoyote]

I have found that coralline algae can grow quickly in just about any light. My refugiums have turned purple as fast as my displays did, with a simple curly-q energy saver bulb.

That's true. It grows in dark overhangs and caves both in the wild and in the tank. It becomes a real pain if you have calcium levels to support hard corals. My old acrylic tank crusts over in about 30 days until I can't stand it anymore and scrape the concrete hard stuff off without scratching my tank even worse. Part of the deal if you want to grow coral, but it is a pest to me.