Tank not growing coralline and has algae

[devin.reed2000]

Hello. My 32g tank has been running for about 10 months now and I see some signs of coralline algae on the powerheads. I do a pretty good job of keeping up with regular maintenance (20% water changes once a week). However, my rocks don’t appear to be growing coralline algae. They do tend to have lots of algae that comes off with a turkey baster. Does anyone have advice? I haven’t tested my water in a while…I could be more involved with my tank but it’s been hard for me to motivate during the winter season. I have a hammer that is doing very well and a few zoas and a GSP on the back wall. The zoas are struggling. I do have a few fish but definitely need more.

Water parameters are below (right before weekly water change):
Temperature: 78F
Salinity: 1.024/1.025sg
Phosphate: 0.052ppm
Alkalinity: 9.84dKH
pH: 7.9
Calcium: 400ppm
Magnesium: 1400ppm
Nitrates: 2ppm

View attachment 3590486

 

[ryanjohn1]

IMO ease up on water changes. Nutrients are pretty low. And typically coraline grows on plastics and such first. Then starts showing on rocks. Pretty young tank. Easy does it in this hobby friend

 

[lil sumpin]

CCA started taking off in my tank once I figured out the alk consumption and was able to keep parameters fairly stable for a bit. I think I can also credit the trochus snail shell which had a bunch of purple and pinks on it.

 

[Idech]

Scrape the coralline algae on the powerheads so it goes everywhere.

You can also get some frags or inverts with coralline on it. Parameters matter as well, as others have said.

 

[ScottJ]

I have a tank that is just over a year and I'm just starting to get coriline. I still get hair algae I have to clean off rocks. My other tank just turned 4 years, and is finally starting to run on cruse control.

Things take a lot longer than you think they should to even out. I'm sure there's a scientific, biologic reason, but that's above my pay grade. All I know is patience is a virtue.