Coralline algae question from a beginner

[DEE’S reef]

I’m new to reefing and I had a couple questions about coralline algae?
First one is. Is there a way to encourage or speed up coralline algae establishment in my tank with out adding live rock.
Question 2 . How do most tank get coralline algae?
Question 3. Is there certain parameters that coralline algae likes that speeds growth up.
Finally . Is there a certain method to make coralline algae spread in my tank quickly?

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Stable parameters is a must, if you have snails, more than likely they have coralline on them when you picked them up.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So the parameters I have are
Ammonia 0
Nitrate about 20
Nitrite 0
Ph 8.2
Alkalinity 10.5
Are these good parameters I have some green looking algae that my astrea snails are kinda of picking at. I was wonder if it the green coralline algae or just regular algae

 

[Fish Fan]

So the parameters I have are
Ammonia 0
Nitrate about 20
Nitrite 0
Ph 8.2
Alkalinity 10.5
Are these good parameters I have some green looking algae that my astrea snails are kinda of picking at. I was wonder if it the green coralline algae or just regular algae

How old is your tank? It can take a few months before you start to see coralline.

For most people, it just "shows up". It comes in on snail shells or a frag plug, and then spreads to the rest of your system. In general, coralline likes conditions that favor stoney corals. There are some products that are intended to seed your tank with coralline algae spores, though some claim these products are "snake oil". There are also products that are kind of like "food" or "fertilizer" for coralline that are intended to support its growth. They typically have things like alkalinity ions, calcium, magnesium and other elements that coralline uses (as does stoney corals).

Some examples:

Coralline Algae in a Bottle Purple Helix - Live Spores

ARC Reef's Purple Helix Coralline Algae in a bottle contains 8 different species of live algae spores. Seed your aquarium with vibrant hues of purple coralline.

arcreef.com

Brightwell Aquatics - Coralline Accelerator

I hope that helps!

 

[Impunitus]

Everything great takes time, coralline will come with time and stable take parameters.

You mentioned no live rock, so assuming you started all dry. That is not to worry though! As others have mentioned, if you got any snails with purple on their shells, that is coralline. Them being in your tank will allow it to spread to your rockwork, glass, etc. over time. Any frag plugs or coral pieces you grab from your LFS or other providers likely will also have coralline on them. Fish Fan also linked coralline in a bottle which I have heard does work as well!

In my case, I'm also a newbie! Started my first tank in August and we spun up a second 25 Gal in the fall. The tank I started in August was primarily dry rock with 8 lbs of TBS rock. The second tank was mainly TBS rock with a small amount of dry rock. We noticed coralline growth on the tank/powerheads of the 25 Gal tank before we saw it in the larger tank. Both have coralline, but live rock is (in my very limited experience) going to be the fastest way to get it happening in your tank.

In my research I found that the hard green algae comes before coaralline. I would say, in my very limited experience, that seems to run true. My dry rock in the SR60 was covered in hard green algae which seems to have gone away and is slowly being replaced my coralline. I will also say in my very limited experience that live rock, even a few pieces/some rubble from your LFS that have coralline already established are going to help in getting is growing in other places of your tank quicker.

Your parameters look fine from what you have provided, I'd also recommend tracking your phosphate as that is an important one to know as well! Calcium is also one to keep an eye on here as coralline will consume calcium and alkalinity. The most important part about your parameters is stability! Do not chase numbers, but maintaining stable, healthy ones is important.

A few months minimum to see growth, it took about 4-5 in my case on the SR60 to see noticeable patches of growth.

 

[Reef.]

Some LFS sell sheets of coralline algae, buy a couple of sheets, crunch them up and add to the tank.

Its not so much the parameters but keeping them stable over time is probably more helpful.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So I have order a phosphate test kit it was supposed to get last but are weather here delayed it so I should be getting that in a day or so.
Also when do you think I should get corals should I wait till I get coralline or should I wait longer and add coral to help get coralline algae in my tank?

 

[Impunitus]

So I have order a phosphate test kit it was supposed to get last but are weather here delayed it so I should be getting that in a day or so.
Also when do you think I should get corals should I wait till I get coralline or should I wait longer and add coral to help get coralline algae in my tank?

Either Salifert or Hana for your phosphate kit! I have both and they both come highly recommended.

I added corals before I had additional coralline growth and they lived fine without issue. Stable water parameters is the important thing for your corals. I've seen plenty of tanks that are SUPER fresh with coral frags that are perfectly happy. But again, that is because of stable water!

 

[SonOfaGoat]

Don't even worry about the coralline, it will naturally just come. Good luck keeping it out. I would say you could start adding a frag or two now of some easier corals.

 

[BonnieB]

You definitely don’t want to wait for coralline to be in your tank to add corals. If your parameters are in check you could start with a couple of softies and see how they do. All it takes, by the way, as others have said is one little piece of coralline to come in with a snail or frag plug and you will be off to the races as long as it has conditions where it will grow.

 

[DEE’S reef]

I ordered a salifert phosphate test kit.
Also do you guys think my parameters are good yet for corals I tested them today with my Red Sea marine care test kit.
Also what coral if the parameters are good should I get a zoa.

 

[Impunitus]

I ordered a salifert phosphate test kit.
Also do you guys think my parameters are good yet for corals I tested them today with my Red Sea marine care test kit.
Also what coral if the parameters are good should I get a zoa.

Assuming phosphate doesn't test completely insane, and those parameters are stable then I would say you are absolutely in a good place to start with softies.

Zoas are good, but do not get a super expensive/showy one to start. If you like GSP, that is another good one to start with! It'll grow everywhere, so make sure you have it isolated/on an island away from all your rock. Toadstool leathers if you are interested in them are a good one too.

 

[BonnieB]

Zoas are good and plentiful so you would have a bunch of choices. Same with mushrooms. Some like GSP, Xenia and clove polyps but they can take over the tank. I have not had that experience though and if they grow too much they are easy to frag.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So do Zoas take over the rock by spreading like crazy?
Also what do you mean by if the phosphate doesn’t test completely insane?
And what are good phosphate number?

 

[paraletho]

Couple of things I have noticed over the years. Coralline usually starts in areas of lower light especially in if it is a a 400-500 top of the rockwork SPS system and it loves magnesium.

 

[Impunitus]

So do Zoas take over the rock by spreading like crazy?
Also what do you mean by if the phosphate doesn’t test completely insane?
And what are good phosphate number?

Zoas also should be kept to an island if you do not want them taking over completely.

You will get A LOT of different opinions on phosphate numbers. I run my tank from 0.15-0.2 right now and my softies and LPS are very happy. I have also seen people running higher and their tanks are also happy. If your phosphate is over 1.0 I'd say that is 'testing high' as even my softies and LPS were unhappy when I was close to that, but I also think that was a sharp hard swing that caused the stress more than anything else.

In my limited experience, SPS (acros primarily) do not enjoy higher phosphate but that may just be a me problem.

 

[BonnieB]

Depends on the zoa …I have one colony that started with 3 polyps a year ago and now it is finally about 25…then I have a colony that’s going wild! But for me I am building a zoa garden so I want all the different ones to merge over the rocks they’re on. You could place them on an island if you want to contain them but again they are easy to frag if you feel they overrun and area.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So this is what my tanks aqua scape looks like I was thinking the arches maybe a montipora.
But let me know and let me know the best place for zoa’s.

 

[Fish Fan]

So this is what my tanks aqua scape looks like I was thinking the arches maybe a montipora.
But let me know and let me know the best place for zoa’s.

With much respect, I would take a lot of that rock out I think you need to allow for more free space, plus shelves, coves, and ledges for coral to grow, and fish to feel at home

 

[KrisReef]

What light(s) are you using to grow coral & coralline algae under?