Why Coralline on glass,not Rocks?

[CoMMaNdeR]

What I want to know is written in the Subject, my aquarium is 1 year old, I have pink and green coralline patches on all sides of the aquarium but nothing on the Live rocks.

Why guys? What shell I do to see it growing on the rocks too?

[jdircksen]

Do you have hair algae on your rocks? I am pretty sure coraline will only grow where other algae is not growing.

[mattsilvester]

clean rocks helps - snails etc? if rocks are clean, and there is sufficient disolved calcium etc, then you should be seeing it everywhere.

[gregrex]

I've got the exact same issue. I thought it was related to T5 lighting, but I see from your tank's description that my first guess was wrong.

I'm not convinced dirty rocks are the issue. My tank appears quite clean... well, to me at least.

[tgunn]

I found that the coralline in my tank REALLY took off on the glass but was slow to get going on the rocks. I think it has to do with the fact that the rocks get pretty direct light. Coralline seems to grow best in lower light. The sides of most of my rocks developed coralline much quicker than the tops.

[CoMMaNdeR]

Thanks for your fast replies,

My rocks are clean, no trace of other algae growing. No Hair Algae, no nothing. Coralline is growing on all the sides of my tank, but like I said it is not on the rocks.

I don't think lights are the problem, there are shaded places in caves etc and still there is not coralline present. I don't know why this happens. Does anyone hear have a clue for this?

[jbittner]

what are you Calcium, Mag and Alk levels. Getting these in the proper rages was key for my coralline growth.

[amike5]

It may depend on how often your snails clean the rock. For example, I use a mag float on the front and side glass every-other day and rarely get coraline growing on it. On the other hand my back glass is almost completely covered with it because I don't float it and the snails don't go on it much. The rocks that snails usually don't travel on in my tank have much more coraline than ones frequented by the snails. Just a thought.

[CoMMaNdeR]

It is not matter of readings I think, the readings are good because if not the coralline algae will not grow on the glass. The problem is that it's not growing on the rocks.

I don't have too many snails, and the liverocks are clean of algae, very few patches of pink corraline algae is visible, but not many as desired..

[jbittner]

The easiest place for coralline to gro it on the glass. Glass is clean, smooth with no "animal interuptions". Coralline growth rates should be fastest on glass, powerheads or oveflows. To optimize growth on rocks, tank parameters should be a perfect as possible.
Ca--420
Alk--3.25
Ph 8.2
Mag 1360
These are my tank readings and I cannot keep up with coraline growth.

[illal]

if you have coraline on your glass than it will soon follow on yur rocks as u prolly kno by now patiance is something u gotta have in this hobby ;)

[Tang Salad]

Are these rocks newly added?

If the coralline is on your glass, then it will certainly grow on your rocks eventually. It may just take some more time.

[saltaholic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9348057#post9348057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
Are these rocks newly added?

If the coralline is on your glass, then it will certainly grow on your rocks eventually. It may just take some more time.

I agree coraline always covered my glass almost to the point of being a pain in the butt, however on the rocks was a different story. Just keep your water optimum and it will happen. One note, when you say nothing on the rock do you literally mean nothing? That would be odd. Are you seeing it disappear?

[CoMMaNdeR]

There are few coralline patches on the rocks, the rocks are not new but have been there since the tank was setted up. I have patient don't worry guys. hehe just wondering why this coralline don't want to cover all my rock... Hmm it will look very nice with pinkish colour ..

[gregrex]

It's still quite strange that it seems to grow so well on rocks in some tanks but not in others. Like the original poster, I spend half my time clearing it from the glass. I've given up trying to keep it off the back and sides...

I wonder if that's the problem.. ie. If you let it grow freely on the back and sides, does it consume nutrients that would be used to grow it on the rocks?

Commander, Saltaholic, have you folks let it grow freely on the glass?

[labatt]

I had the same problem and thought my rocks were clean. I bought another dozen cerith snails to clean better and have gotten probably a %300 increase in corraline on the rocks in the last month.

[boxfishpooalot]

My theory is are rocks are loaded with phosphates and that is slowing their growth on the rock. Glass does not leach phosphates.

[saltaholic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9348527#post9348527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gregrex
It's still quite strange that it seems to grow so well on rocks in some tanks but not in others. Like the original poster, I spend half my time clearing it from the glass. I've given up trying to keep it off the back and sides...

I wonder if that's the problem.. ie. If you let it grow freely on the back and sides, does it consume nutrients that would be used to grow it on the rocks?

Commander, Saltaholic, have you folks let it grow freely on the glass?

I let it grow on the back. I have also heard that when you scrape the glass it helps it spread, like seeding?

[dangros]

I've been having the same prob as the OP.
If the op is still in this hobby, how did things turn out??

I'm growing all over my 90g but not on the rocks. I do have a bit of GHA in a very few spots but my params seem to be inline with what is correct. Measuring 0 phosphates on my Hanna, 380-400 Ca, 1270 - 1350 Mg, and 7.5-8.2 Alk (ranges over the last 6mo).

[mfaso24]

I actually have the opposite "problem". Covered my rocks and overflow box but doesn't really ever grow on my glass.

[regtur]

we have 7 salt water tanks between my son and me and we found the led tanks grow coralline a lot faster than any of the T5 or my Hamilton metal halide monster but the biggest factor was salt manufacture

[dangros]

I actually have the opposite "problem". Covered my rocks and overflow box but doesn't really ever grow on my glass.

I wouldnt call that a problem, I would call it an ideal/lucky scenario.

[dangros]

btw, once I got my calcium reactor, it started to grow. I also seeded again with a local reefer's sample. Now it's all over.

[mfaso24]

I wouldnt call that a problem, I would call it an ideal/lucky scenario.



I know that's why I put problem in quotes lol


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[C.Eymann]

I have read in either Julian Sprungs series or the Fossa/Nielsen series that the rasp pattern left behind by snails can actually encourage coralline algea to gain a strong hold. As most us know, our snails as are usually predominantly grazing on the glass more than they do on rocks. This could be the main reason we see coralline readily on the glass but getting pink/purple rocks takes more time. Just like coral, stable alk/cal/mag is important to encourage coralline algae growth.

[spsfreak25]

I have it all over my rocks and my glass. It's covering my rocks so much that I can even see much of the rocks anymore. My tank has been running for a little over a year now and I started with marco rock. I will see if I can post a pic of my rocks for you.

[spsfreak25]

Not the best pics but they are going from left to right. I do feed alot in my tank 3 times a day. Ever sense I started doing that it really took off

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160608/05d0b3711256d95aeaed49216b221161.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160608/3a1ddb8e4f0ea57364c1dd6babd2b482.jpg

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[Noknock]

Turn off your pumps, scrape it off the glass, suck up the scrapings with a turkey baster and spread it over your rocks. It will take off in no time doing this. Unless you have a phosphate problem in your rocks.