what causes coraline to grow so fast?

805reef · 07/25/2009, 09:28 AM

i just cleaned the inside of my tank with an acrylic scaper on tuesday, and already yesterday, and even more so today, the inside of the tank is getting covered in coraline! ive seen so many people on here wanting so bad for coraline to start growing, and here i am wanting it to stop! or at least slow down.

Michael · 07/25/2009, 09:33 AM

dont complain too much, although imo if it becomes like plaster it could clog up the live rock, decent parameters, nice calcium and alkilinity levels in general are good reasons why its thriving in your tank, my suggestion, be happy about it, just keep an eye on the live rock, i have removed a couple of pieces of my rock before as it was caked in the stuff, i scraped it off and put it back in the tank, most reefers would be delighted with your problem,lol,

805reef · 07/25/2009, 09:37 AM

thanks mike, thats what i keep telling my wife. but she doesnt like how it gets in the way of seeing into the tank... i guess i will just have to clean it more often

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/25/2009, 09:41 AM

Calcium and alkalinity levels, as well as lighting conditions.

You want good calcium and alkalinity levels in your tank for other reasons, but if you want the coralline to stop growing on your glass, you may be able to control that through creative alteration of your lighting fixture. What are you using to light the tank? How good are your reflectors? Really good reflectors direct nearly all light straight down, where it enters the water column - and there is very little spill to the sides, i.e. the glass. Poor quality reflectors and/or fixtures too high off the tank can tend to light the glass quite a bit. I have seen situations like you are describing where people altered their reflectors, or attached narrow "blinds" in strategic locatins, to keep light off the glass. This can make a pretty significant difference in algae growth on the glass.

805reef · 07/25/2009, 09:48 AM

i have a 48" long tek t5 6 bulb fixture on a 48x30 tank... the fixture is about as high as it can be... maybe i will lower it and see how that goes

Michael · 07/25/2009, 09:50 AM

i wouldnt worry about it, your a lucky fella, great parameters and good corraline growth,lol, can you give us some tips haha.

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/25/2009, 09:56 AM

Lowering it, even a few inches, should reduce spill onto the glass, and increase intensity in the tank (where you want it.) Sounds like a good step to take.

jbird69 · 07/25/2009, 10:21 AM

most of my coraline grows in the more shaded areas. caves, under rocks, in my overflow and my sump.

Sisterlimonpot · 07/25/2009, 10:23 AM

805reef,
I'm curious... what are your calcium and alkalinity readings right now?

MM WI · 07/25/2009, 12:11 PM

From my experience keeping alk at or above the upper end of the recommended range will incourage coraline on the glass. Keeping it in the middle of the range will help the coraline grow on the rock where you definitely want it.

WOW, so many beneficial thing have been maligned on this site... If coraline joins the list i am going to lose my mind!

- mark

bms270 · 07/25/2009, 12:30 PM

I suffer from the same luck! coraline grows like crazy on everything! I repositioned a big white rock in the tank and in two weeks its all covered with beautiful purple coraline! so if anybody wants coraline I can cover your rock! I think its because of the fact that I got my live rock from a guy that had the same story. I guess its the gin of the coraline! anyway Im happy having a very colorful tank! Be happy about it!

Ebisan · 07/25/2009, 03:21 PM

I wish i had your problem. Coralline doesnt grow in my tank anymore. Was wondering what brand of salt you are using.

MM WI · 07/26/2009, 12:05 AM

I believe that bms270 is on to something, my observations suggest that better quality live rock will have trace minerals and a composition that encourages the growth of coraline. Lower quality rock or rock that has been kept outside of recommended parameters too long will have a harder time growing coraline.

troublesx10 · 07/26/2009, 12:21 AM

one way you can keep the coraline algea in check and a great way---- longspine black urchin------it is the equilivent of what the snails do to the algea, but it goes more for the coraline algea

Mopar Reefer · 07/26/2009, 05:56 AM

I believe that MG is also very important, I couldn't get coraline to grow in my DT to save my life. I tested my MG and it was 1075, then when I raised it to 1400, coraline took off. By the same token my Alk and cal was all within parameters the whole time, it just took some extra MG to get started.

FRP · 07/26/2009, 12:14 PM

my rock was covered with it when i got it and it just spread like crazy

805reef · 07/26/2009, 12:31 PM

i am using NSW, i have to test for cal/alk/mg... i have a blue tuxedo urchin, would i be able to keep a spiny black with the blue tuxedo?

troublesx10 · 07/27/2009, 07:50 PM

yeah think so, see no reason why not.

07/25/2009, 09:28 AM	#1
805reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 1,588	what causes coraline to grow so fast? i just cleaned the inside of my tank with an acrylic scaper on tuesday, and already yesterday, and even more so today, the inside of the tank is getting covered in coraline! ive seen so many people on here wanting so bad for coraline to start growing, and here i am wanting it to stop! or at least slow down.

07/25/2009, 09:33 AM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	dont complain too much, although imo if it becomes like plaster it could clog up the live rock, decent parameters, nice calcium and alkilinity levels in general are good reasons why its thriving in your tank, my suggestion, be happy about it, just keep an eye on the live rock, i have removed a couple of pieces of my rock before as it was caked in the stuff, i scraped it off and put it back in the tank, most reefers would be delighted with your problem,lol, __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

07/25/2009, 09:37 AM	#3
805reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 1,588	thanks mike, thats what i keep telling my wife. but she doesnt like how it gets in the way of seeing into the tank... i guess i will just have to clean it more often __________________ Vince 300 gallon peninsula, return:RD3 Speedy 230, Turbo's Rev4 L2 Algae Turf Scrubber, (2) Gyre 150s, Advanced Acrylic sump, (4) Ocean Revive T247s, Apex (classic w/ black sticker;):D)

07/25/2009, 09:41 AM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Calcium and alkalinity levels, as well as lighting conditions. You want good calcium and alkalinity levels in your tank for other reasons, but if you want the coralline to stop growing on your glass, you may be able to control that through creative alteration of your lighting fixture. What are you using to light the tank? How good are your reflectors? Really good reflectors direct nearly all light straight down, where it enters the water column - and there is very little spill to the sides, i.e. the glass. Poor quality reflectors and/or fixtures too high off the tank can tend to light the glass quite a bit. I have seen situations like you are describing where people altered their reflectors, or attached narrow "blinds" in strategic locatins, to keep light off the glass. This can make a pretty significant difference in algae growth on the glass. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/25/2009, 09:48 AM	#5
805reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 1,588	i have a 48" long tek t5 6 bulb fixture on a 48x30 tank... the fixture is about as high as it can be... maybe i will lower it and see how that goes __________________ Vince 300 gallon peninsula, return:RD3 Speedy 230, Turbo's Rev4 L2 Algae Turf Scrubber, (2) Gyre 150s, Advanced Acrylic sump, (4) Ocean Revive T247s, Apex (classic w/ black sticker;):D)

07/25/2009, 09:50 AM	#6
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	i wouldnt worry about it, your a lucky fella, great parameters and good corraline growth,lol, can you give us some tips haha. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

07/25/2009, 09:56 AM	#7
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Lowering it, even a few inches, should reduce spill onto the glass, and increase intensity in the tank (where you want it.) Sounds like a good step to take. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/25/2009, 10:21 AM	#8
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	most of my coraline grows in the more shaded areas. caves, under rocks, in my overflow and my sump. __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

07/25/2009, 10:23 AM	#9
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	805reef, I'm curious... what are your calcium and alkalinity readings right now? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

07/25/2009, 12:11 PM	#10
MM WI Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mazomanie, WI Posts: 326	From my experience keeping alk at or above the upper end of the recommended range will incourage coraline on the glass. Keeping it in the middle of the range will help the coraline grow on the rock where you definitely want it. WOW, so many beneficial thing have been maligned on this site... If coraline joins the list i am going to lose my mind! - mark

07/25/2009, 12:30 PM	#11
bms270 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 243	I suffer from the same luck! coraline grows like crazy on everything! I repositioned a big white rock in the tank and in two weeks its all covered with beautiful purple coraline! so if anybody wants coraline I can cover your rock! I think its because of the fact that I got my live rock from a guy that had the same story. I guess its the gin of the coraline! anyway Im happy having a very colorful tank! Be happy about it! __________________ "I've learned .... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness, and growth occurs while you're climbing it." Current Tank Info: 225G Mixed Reef

07/25/2009, 03:21 PM	#12
Ebisan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,141	I wish i had your problem. Coralline doesnt grow in my tank anymore. Was wondering what brand of salt you are using.

07/26/2009, 12:05 AM	#13
MM WI Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mazomanie, WI Posts: 326	I believe that bms270 is on to something, my observations suggest that better quality live rock will have trace minerals and a composition that encourages the growth of coraline. Lower quality rock or rock that has been kept outside of recommended parameters too long will have a harder time growing coraline.

07/26/2009, 12:21 AM	#14
troublesx10 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: miami shores, florida Posts: 91	one way you can keep the coraline algea in check and a great way---- longspine black urchin------it is the equilivent of what the snails do to the algea, but it goes more for the coraline algea

07/26/2009, 05:56 AM	#15
Mopar Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach Posts: 465	I believe that MG is also very important, I couldn't get coraline to grow in my DT to save my life. I tested my MG and it was 1075, then when I raised it to 1400, coraline took off. By the same token my Alk and cal was all within parameters the whole time, it just took some extra MG to get started.

07/26/2009, 12:14 PM	#16
FRP Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 60	my rock was covered with it when i got it and it just spread like crazy

07/26/2009, 12:31 PM	#17
805reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 1,588	i am using NSW, i have to test for cal/alk/mg... i have a blue tuxedo urchin, would i be able to keep a spiny black with the blue tuxedo? __________________ Vince 300 gallon peninsula, return:RD3 Speedy 230, Turbo's Rev4 L2 Algae Turf Scrubber, (2) Gyre 150s, Advanced Acrylic sump, (4) Ocean Revive T247s, Apex (classic w/ black sticker;):D)

07/27/2009, 07:50 PM	#18
troublesx10 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: miami shores, florida Posts: 91	yeah think so, see no reason why not.