Why can't I grow Coralline algae

[HaloPhenom27]

What's your method to lower phosphates?

I am running ultra high capacity GFO (Aqua Vitro) through a fluidized reactor.

 

[melanotaenia]

Try to bring the Alkalinity up to between 7-8 DKH first, and lowering the N03 and P04.

Do not raise DKH by more than 1 DKH per day

 

[Urkin$Urchin]

Well there you go. Your water parameters are not ideal for sps therefore not ideal for coraline.

Okay, I understand that, but what would be good parameters for it? does my magnesium need to come up, my calcium down. etc? what would be a good route to take?

 

[melanotaenia]

Try to get to around natural seawater conditions:

MG: ~1300
Alk ~7-8 DKH
Calcium: 400-450

 

[tqpolo]

Okay, I understand that, but what would be good parameters for it? does my magnesium need to come up, my calcium down. etc? what would be a good route to take?

First step is to raise Mag to 1350. At low Mag, you can’t raise Alk. Second step is to raise Alk to 8. The Cal you can leave it at 500, it won’t hurt.

Then you need to fix your nutrient problem. At 80-160 NO3 is ridiculous for coralline to grow. I’m surprise you’re not overgrown with algae problem. I suggest doing Nopox. Take it slow and it should get down in a month.

 

[Terrp]

The section on Tank Requirements for Optimal Growth at the following link provides some good target parameters for growing coralline algae, according to Arc Reef, the makers of Coralline in a Bottle:

https://arcreef.com/coralline-algae-instructions/

 

[jpas]

Akl = 0.6 = 6.1ppm

Is Alk at 6.1Dkh? If so, this is on the low side, should be at least 7 for a low nutrient system.

Do you have a fuge with macro algae or are you only relying on GFO to deal with phosphates? NPOX is good to get your nitrate levels down, but in my experience it is not a long term fix.

 

[SteadyC]

Your ALK can’t be 6.1ppm. You must be thinking 6.1 Dkh. 125ppm=7.0Dkh. But, assuming you mean 6.1Dkh, that is low.

 

[nano reef]

I have one tank filled with coraline an another with barely any and its very important because I put a bunch of acrylic frag racks in with high end zoas in both tanks and thet started dying and getting what I think is diatoms all over them. I read somewhere that putting anything new and plastic can cause a diatom out break!

So the tank with corline took over the racks and all is good. No more zoa deaths but the other tank still has diatoms and most of them have died!

I traded out the racks so hopefully it will start to take off in the other tank. I am having the same problem with my new frag tank and zoas! They arent doing well and lots have died from the diatoms! iTs been cycled about 3 months and took months to cycle! I put a tester cyphaestra and it quickly died!

I read on a post that you can add kalkwasser to a new tank and it cause coaline to grow bu way to scary especially since it doesn't need doing yet!

Anyone tried the coraline in a bottle? There is a ebY seller selling coralline to but very pricey!

I have some new zoas coming in from a very old order and I am pretty sure they will die! UGGH. I don't even want them anymore but seller wont let me trade even and been holding my order I paid for since FEB! They did me dirty! Ebay wont back me since you only have 30 days to report! Over 1,7 k order too!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have one tank filled with coraline an another with barely any and its very important because I put a bunch of acrylic frag racks in with high end zoas in both tanks and thet started dying and getting what I think is diatoms all over them. I read somewhere that putting anything new and plastic can cause a diatom out break!

So the tank with corline took over the racks and all is good. No more zoa deaths but the other tank still has diatoms and most of them have died!

I traded out the racks so hopefully it will start to take off in the other tank. I am having the same problem with my new frag tank and zoas! They arent doing well and lots have died from the diatoms! iTs been cycled about 3 months and took months to cycle! I put a tester cyphaestra and it quickly died!

I read on a post that you can add kalkwasser to a new tank and it cause coaline to grow bu way to scary especially since it doesn't need doing yet!

Anyone tried the coraline in a bottle? There is a ebY seller selling coralline to but very pricey!

I have some new zoas coming in from a very old order and I am pretty sure they will die! UGGH. I don't even want them anymore but seller wont let me trade even and been holding my order I paid for since FEB! They did me dirty! Ebay wont back me since you only have 30 days to report! Over 1,7 k order too!

Easiest way is to add a rock with coralline already but your calcium level , amount of light and water flow too plays a role

 

[reefpanda8]

I wouldn't worry too much, I had the same issue when I started up last year. Basically my alk was down to 6 and mag was at like 1250 and calcium was like 500, couldn't grow coraline for like the first 6 months or so (if any was, it was extremely slowly). I basically upped my Alk to 8, supplemented mag and then dosed AFR to keep it stable and surprise surprise coraline explosion like a month or two later. My phos is high around 0.2 and my nitrates have been around 20-30 the whole time. I have an algae scrubber and bag of GFO in the baffles of my sump. Thats about it, once you get your levels right it should come naturally

 

[nano reef]

Easiest way is to add a rock with coralline already but your calcium level , amount of light and water flow too plays a role

I wouldn't worry too much, I had the same issue when I started up last year. Basically my alk was down to 6 and mag was at like 1250 and calcium was like 500, couldn't grow coraline for like the first 6 months or so (if any was, it was extremely slowly). I basically upped my Alk to 8, supplemented mag and then dosed AFR to keep it stable and surprise surprise coraline explosion like a month or two later. My phos is high around 0.2 and my nitrates have been around 20-30 the whole time. I have an algae scrubber and bag of GFO in the baffles of my sump. Thats about it, once you get your levels right it should come naturally

My levels are amount identical in both tanks though. I did find out about 8 months ago that I had been running low on almost all levels because I quit dosing then later found out my hanna alk checker was off by 3 points. I only checked at water change time and it was always 9 or so so I figured I didnt need dosing anymore and thought it was because I had lost some corals! I was actually running around 6 alk not 9.

I have one tank exploding in coraline and other wont. Maybe its my light schedule which I just found out LPs mode for noopsyches is much lower then you think!


I am going to scrape all the coraline off those frag racks or at least the underside and blend it up with some calcium, tank water and mg and see if it will seed the tank. I seen some you tubes about it!

 

[reefiteasy]

If your nitrate and phosphates are elevated, then that is your issue. If I let mine get to .1P and even 2 or 3N, it will slow down significantly, but it does still grow. The elevated levels of N and P inhibit calcification and coralline depends on this... the higher it gets, the more it will inhibit. Super high levels of light can inhibit it too, but it still grows like crazy in my tanks under 250w Halides with 14k Phoenix bulbs in them... I am talking like 400w 6500k bulbs.

Edit: I can peel plates of it off in a year and the whole glass can get covered to where you cannot see through it in 4 weeks if I do not scrape. I keep my N and P and NSW levels.

Super cool. Wish I could grow coralline lol I’d cover shipping cost for you to bag that up and send it to me ahah

 

[LARedstickreefer]

My levels are amount identical in both tanks though. I did find out about 8 months ago that I had been running low on almost all levels because I quit dosing then later found out my hanna alk checker was off by 3 points. I only checked at water change time and it was always 9 or so so I figured I didnt need dosing anymore and thought it was because I had lost some corals! I was actually running around 6 alk not 9.

I have one tank exploding in coraline and other wont. Maybe its my light schedule which I just found out LPs mode for noopsyches is much lower then you think!


I am going to scrape all the coraline off those frag racks or at least the underside and blend it up with some calcium, tank water and mg and see if it will seed the tank. I seen some you tubes about it!

Let the experiment begin!

 

[nano reef]

Let the experiment begin!

Now I cant find blender UGGHH I used to puree my food with it and mght have thrown it way when he passed!