Promoting Green Coralline Algae Growth – 04/01/09
Greetings!
<<Howdy David!>>
I have not seen any articles that describe how one might promote green coralline algae growth, rather than the purple stuff, in their saltwater tank.
<<Mmm, yes…I don’t think anything we have/I have ever seen goes beyond the Family (Corallinacae) to describing how to culture a specific genus or species>>
Is there knowledge available on your site that covers this, and somehow I have missed it?
<<I don’t think so…I believe what information is available is pretty generic to this Family of alga>>
Or am I on my own here in seemingly purple, uncharted waters?
<<Would seem so>>
I want green coralline in my tank, not purple!
<<You do raise some interesting questions. To culture a “specific” Coralline algae I would think you would first, need to obtain samples of such and second, know what part of the reef niche/under what conditions (lighting, water flow, etc.) it was found…and then attempt to replicate those conditions in your tank. It may simply be a matter of collection or abundance, but it seems our captive systems are more suited to the red and purple Corallines, for sure>>
Thanks for your time!
David Wieberg
Ft. Worth, TX
<<Happy to share… Eric Russell…Columbia, SC>>

Coralline Algae Propagation   5/23/06
To whom it may concern:
<Crew is good enough.>
I believe that I am having trouble with the live rock in my 37G (high) tank.  I started this tank about 9 months ago, and began with 35 lbs. of Fiji live rock and live sand.  The rock had a nice, white crust over most of it, along with beautiful light purple hues.  I then added about 40 tiny crabs, and two sally lightfoot crabs, along with a feather duster.   The sally Lightfoots died months ago, and I recently added a yellow tang, which is currently the only fish in the tank.   I'm writing because yesterday I went into a local fish store, and their reef tank had live rock completely covered in beautiful crimson red coral.  My rock looks completely stripped and barren.  I'm not sure if my janitorial creatures are "overdoing" it.  I just started adding 10 cc of calcium and 10 cc of alkalinity solution per day.  Is there anything else that I can do in order to encourage beautiful looking coralline algae for my reef?
<Yes, there is.  Read here and linked files above.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm
Many thanks,
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Chris

Re: Coralline Algae Propagation   5/23/06
James (and crew):
<Chris>
I appreciate the quick reply, however, I have one follow-up question for you.  The live-rock was added in August of 2005, and has subsequently been stripped of all the thick crusted coralline growth by my janitorial creatures.  If I simply follow your instructions, approximately how long will it take for me to experience full growth?  <If you maintain calcium and alkalinity along with pH, you should start noticing some growth in three to four weeks.>  Also, have I seriously hurt my tank by letting the rock get so stripped and barren for so long without any alkalinity or calcium supplementation?  <Don't think so.  If you performed water changes at least twice a month there would be enough supplements to take care of animals requiring it, but growth would be slow with calcium loving animals.>
I guess that's two follow-up questions, actually.
Thanks again,
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Chris

-Weeds!!!-
Hello there, I am running a 450 litre reef tank with about 60 kilos of live rock, no sand (to speak of), skimmer, controlled injection of ozone and a wet/dry with bio-balls. 2 x 150 MH on for 10 hours a day. pH range between 8.0 and 8.2 (v stable), ammonia, nitrate and nitrite nil, winter temperature range between 26.5 and 27.5 c. <Sounds good> Fish inhabitants are Flame Angel, Mandarin, Yellow Coris (canary), small Kole and Purple tang, pair of Percula clowns, purple Blenny. Invertebrates are boxer shrimp, hammer LPS, mushroom LPS, Elegance LPS, a Duncanopsamia axifungia, one large Sarcophyton, one Lobophyton, 6" maxima clam. I feed all corals that will take it and fish well but carefully.  This setup is 16 months old and still maturing.  Current phase is experiencing quite heavy growth of Caulerpa Bryopsis which keeps getting a dusting of rust coloured "stuff" which makes it look quite scummy.  <Ew> I have two questions, 1./  Why has the Bryopsis, which seems to be reducing in overall volume, started to be covered in the rust coloured stuff (probably algae) <Sometimes it can get covered in competing algae, there's likely some sort of nutrient problem going on.> and 2./ How do I encourage coralline to start to dominate and get rid of this stuff. <Best way to get coralline to go is to make sure that you have introduced plenty of different species and to keep your calcium and carbonate hardness levels high. As for the algae problem, check out http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm and run a phosphate test. Good luck! -Kevin> I an getting really sick of weeding every second week! Thanks and regards, Michael

Cultivating Coralline Algae...
Quick question. I have upgraded lighting and everything.
<Excellent! Mo' money, mo' money! LOL>
I am trying to see if I can get coralline algae to grow as it does in most pictures I see everyday on the net. Along with the light upgrade I also us some to part solution from two little fishies it is called C Balance and it is used as directed but still not much of a coralline increase. The lights consist of two T12 Coralife 40 watt antic 03 bulbs and two 96 watt 50/50 smart bulbs. Is it the power compacts that are killing the coralline algae?
<Nah...Highly doubtful>
I am having a almost perfect outcome for my fish and corals but not coralline algae. I even have amphipods growing and everything but no coralline algae.
<Give it time. Coralline species require calcium, magnesium, and stable water chemistry...If you are maintaining good water conditions, you'll see it soon enough. There are corallines that adapt to a variety of current/light conditions, so be patient. If you are dead set on jump-starting coralline growth, you could use a calcium gluconate supplement, like Sea Chem's "Reef Calcium", which can really grow coralline like crazy, provided the other conditions are acceptable to it's growth. Keep in mind that overall husbandry needs to be excellent when using this "sugar-based" calcium, or it can help contribute to nuisance algae blooms as well...>
I have a plate coral (had for seven months) and a goniopora(5 months) and a frogspawn (two weeks) are they taking to much calcium or is it the lights it is a 55 gallon and other than the corals I have a 2 inch tomato clown and a coral beauty. Please give me some help with this I am at a lost And thanks for the helpful years of WetWebMedia it is a great place and source of information for the rookie aquarist.
<I'm glad that you enjoy the site! We love bringing it to you every day! Check out this link for more on corallines: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallinealg.htm
Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

Coralline Algae Growth
I think I am having problems with purple coralline growth. I have a 72gallon tank with 90lbs of liverock. 440 watts of PC lights. It has been up about 6 months. I have a about 30 propagated coral plugs from GARF, about 40 snails, 10 hermits, 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 serpent stars. I have a yellow tang, Hippo Tang and Tomatoe Clown. I Have been following GARF'S Bullet proof recipe ( Seachem Reef Plus, Reef Complete- Reef Builder and Reef Advantage Calcium).
<All good products>
I also have been adding Marks Weiss Coral Vital once a day (My LFS- Hidden Reef in Philly really believes this promotes coralline growth).
<My mother always told me that "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it..."- so I will refrain from comment on this product :)>
My problem is the purple coralline algae seems to come on strong for a month or two and then seems to shrink in the areas it was growing looks as it gives the appearance almost slowly pealing . It still there but it doesn't seem to spread. The next month it seems to dissipate somewhat. Any Idea why seems this way? I wasn't sure if something is eating it. My liverock has quite a bit of red coralline algae on it and the red doesn't seem to disappear and re-appear like the purple. Over the last 3 month my liverock and become predominately greenish
tone/algae in the areas where there is no purple or red? What Can I do maintain the purple coralline growth that I am not already doing. Thanks in advance - Ron
< I think that you are doing fine with your current methods (well-except for one product, IMHO). Note that there are different colors of coralline algae; there is nothing wrong with pink or green coralline! Keep in mind that concentrations of various nutrients are depleted as the algae grows, so be consistent with your additives, do regular water changes, monitor calcium levels, possibly magnesium. Research calcium reactors and the natural requirements of coralline algae with the resources on wetwebmedia.com. You're doing fine! Scott F.>