Growing Coralline algae in a 10 gallon Nano reef tank

[aquariumkeeper2]

What is the best chemical or way to grow coralline algae in a small 10 gallon nano reef tank and does purple up do a good job of growing it as well.

[Reefman29]

You will need to introduce some into the tank from live rock or perhaps a shell. Good calcium levels and light will help it to grow. Usually coralline will grow in established tanks.

[Damsels R Cool]

the best thing is time i had my 10 gallon running for 2 years and now i cant get it to stop and i started with all base rock

[Damsels R Cool]

Then

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/damsels-R-cool/DSC02435.jpg
http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/damsels-R-cool/DSC02436.jpg


Now
http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/damsels-R-cool/DSC03832.jpg

[disenchantedone]

Buffer!

Used Purple Up - that stuff was worthless. Someone I bought Mangroves from told me to use Buffer and that did wonders! Seed your tank by scraping off some of the purple coraline from somewhere else and maintain your dKH levels with proper lighting.

[musicalrebellion]

wow nice coraline growth!!!!!
i've had my tank running for about 2 months and i had a few specks of coraline.
i used "dead" rock except for one piece of live rock(saving money) and i dose purple up every week.
now my tank is about 1/3 covered in pink coraline.
for a pretty cheap price purple up worked well for me.
although i also used ph buffer.

[bizzarro]

I'd kept the current flow to a minimal like that power filter on that tank. I had a strong powerhead and most of the time the coralline would cover up the glass more so than the rocks.

[gimme?]

dosing Kent A/B will help as well.

[Gill_bucket]

All you need is one really nice piece of live rock a little light and patience. Calcium definitely will help, strontium and iodine wouldn't hurt either. The piece on the left with the whole in it is lava rock so I had to seed it. http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/gill_bucket_2010/DSC_1693.jpg

[aquariumkeeper2]

All you need is one really nice piece of live rock a little light and patience. Calcium definitely will help, strontium and iodine wouldn't hurt either. The piece on the left with the whole in it is lava rock so I had to seed it. http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/gill_bucket_2010/DSC_1693.jpg

its looks really nice, I'm having surgery on friday so i wont be in my basement room for a while. I'm hoping tht lots of coralline algae will grow while i'm recovering.

[Brett9917]

Good luck with your surgery and I hope some one keeps up the tank while you are gone! ;)

[aquariumkeeper2]

Good luck with your surgery and I hope some one keeps up the tank while you are gone! ;)

thanx, I'm teaching my mom how to care for my saltwater aquarium while I'm recovering. Hopefully she wont kill the fish.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Keep your calcium, alkalinity and magnesium in the proper range and coraline algae will take off. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

[chrishet]

Great link SM...I use that one all the time!

There is nothing special in PurpleUp to actually seed your tank with coraline algae...not that it is bad stuff, just don't expect it to do anything more than keep your Ca and Iodine levels up....Dosing with 2 part solution will work better. I also have found that keeping all other algae minimized will help the pretty purple stuff grow like mad...snails are key to keeping the ugly greens away...My recommendation is Astrea snails, add a nice piece of coraline encrusted LR, dose 2 part, monitor params, good lighting...and get your scraper ready...

[MustangCaleb]

my friend had GREAT results with AragaMilk in his 55g. ive never heard of anyone else liking the stuff, but i bought some of his purple rock from him, put it in my tank, and started dosing B-Ionic 2 part solution. my whole tank turned pruple in a few months.

[LaurieC]

Everyone mentions lighting--what lighting do you recommend for coralline growth? I'm only doing a FOWLER in a 55g so I don't want to invest in the high tech lights yet. In another year or so I plan to add coral etc., but only want to upgrade once and not until then. So in meantime, what's the best, cheap lighting for coralline in a FOWLER? Thanks!

[Musicgirl2222]

Buying bas rock with coraline already on helps a little i aslo have a 10 gal reef just started and have a little bit. I've been using reef code a and b a two part additive which i have been told helps so we'll see how that goes good luck.

[KafudaFish]

I run a 5.5 and I add 70 ml of kalk water to about 16 oz of freshwater each day made from Mrs. Wages pickling lime.

1 tablespoon/gallon of top off.

I also add Mg about once a month from BRS.

Any standard light will grow it and some lights like T5 can stun CA growth.

[SF Nano Reefer]

Ooo purple.... (:

[iben07]

I run a 5.5 and it just grows like crazy, add more actinic"blue light" than white light and ur purple coralline will grow grow. i use purple up and buffer. add one rock with it and with proper conditions will grow

[cherubfish pair]

I've read Calcium Polygluconate will help with CA. It's a sugar like all nutrients will help plants.

[cherubfish pair]

^^Yeah, just ran across the CP. Anthony Calfo recommends it in one of his books. He also said be careful of taking water out of the display. The light is much brighter without water to pass through and will bleach your CA even if exposed to air for a short while. CA is sensitive to abrupt increases of lighting.