ARRG!!! I want coraline

S

supermarvin76

New member
I have had live rock in my tank now for almost a year and have not seen ANY coraline growth.

Do I just need to get my calcium up? Or is there more that I can do?

What should my calcium level be?

What is a good "easy" calcium to use?

Thank you.
 
Calcium levels should be around 350+ and magnesium over 1200. However, after that long a time you should have plenty of coralline. Is it base rock of true LR in your tank? If it is base rock then you may need to spring for some real LR.

See Solving Calcium Problems for solutions.
 
Get good quality test kits also (for alkalinity and Calcium)-- I had a calcium test reading 400 that ended up being only 350 when I got a salifert kit---

I raised my calcium to 400 (my alk was already ok) and my coraline took off...

Remember NEVER supplement what you don't test for... you can crash your pH if you add too much calcium with low alkalinity...
 
Alk 3.2+ meq/L and Calcium 400-500 ppm seems to do it. I have base rock (hirocks) that I added to the tank in mid-December, and some of them are almost totally purple with Coraline (the ones in the higher current areas).
 
Start dripping limewater when you get your Ca levels over 400. When I started dripping, coralline grew exponentially.
 
ipsf.com sells coralline booster plates. They are pvc plates, about 3"x4" each, covered with red and purple coralline. You put them in behind the LR and, if conditions are right, it will spread throughout the tank. If you get it with the 9 for $99 deal, you get 3 plates.
 
coralline booster plates are nice when you want to seed base rocks or add coralline variety to what you already have. It will not promote coralline growth. As stated previously you need favorable chemical conditions in order to grow coralline.
One thing that I'd like to mention that make sure that your phosphates are under control, high phosphate levels inhibit calcification process.
 
If you are using Oceanic salt dose strontium to bring it up to 8ppm and see what happens. Oceanic salt contains zero strontium.

It may not be proven that it helps but a lot of good reefers think it does. just keep the levels at natural seawater levels around 8ppm.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6656566#post6656566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TekCat
coralline booster plates are nice when you want to seed base rocks or add coralline variety to what you already have. It will not promote coralline growth. As stated previously you need favorable chemical conditions in order to grow coralline.
One thing that I'd like to mention that make sure that your phosphates are under control, high phosphate levels inhibit calcification process.
Click to expand...

Right. I didn't mean to imply that it would promote growth. I was more responding to those who suggested that he purchase more LR because he may not have any viable coralline currently in his tank.
 
Your lighting seems okay. TPP,TFP, sells Purple Up 16oz. and aragaMILK 16oz. They are good addatives to help the growth.
 
Actually, depending on whose data you use IO seems to have somewhat elevated levels. I'd post the ranges found but I'm more interested on the moment in the range of Super Bowl point spreads. :D
 
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