So I'm in the process of setting up a 500 gallon reef and at this point I'm doing nothing but soaking up all the info while the tank fills. I plan to just let the tank sit for a good 4 months once everything is up and running (should be next week) but while it sets I'd like to get the rock a good jump start before I add any sort of animals to the tank. Whats the best way to get coraline algae going?
coraline algae
- Thread starter stempy07
- Start date
ryeguyy84
New member
+1 no need for purple up
Agreed. Let things happen on their own. You are giving plenty of time for your tank to mature. You'll have plenty.
gregrocks79
Less talk, more rock!
Purple up is Awesome. It'll make your coraline grow like weeds. But less is more when dosing
Purple up is:
Calcium Carbonate as a Supplement
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...y2002/chem.htm
Other ingredients may or may not be useful.
It disappoints me that so many companies continue to push products with the main or only ingredient being fine aragonite (sand). Either they are ignorant of seawater chemistry, or they don't care that the product doesn't work as described.
I would back off such assertions if any company selling any of these sorts of products could show a single thriving and growing SPS type of tank that could be maintained long term using any dose of Purple Up as the only source of calcium and alkalinity. I do not believe that any well known RC member has ever claimed to have done that either.
The particles of calcium carbonate in Purple up and other products may be so small that they can stay suspended in solution. If they do, they will dissolve during the very low pH part of an alkalinity test, and give a falsely high alkalinity. Calcium kits might also be fooled.
In any case, they will not dissolve in seawater. Some portion of them may dissolve as they get into low pH areas, like deep in a sand bed, just as calcium carbonate sand itself will.
But the water column of a reef aquarium is supersaturated with calcium carbonate, precluding dissolution.
FWIW, I have debated these issues with company reps (like Kent) online here, without ever having them provide any evidence that their product (in that case, Liquid Reactor) is any different than adding fine sand.
__________________
Randy Holmes-Farley
Club 65535
gregrocks79
Less talk, more rock!
Hmmmm you've got a point. I most def noticed a growth in coralline since adding purple up. I use the sealab no. 23 blocks too and have been checking parameters morning and night and they're spot on! I have a 60g w 30 sump and I only use a capful in the morning. Almost done w the bottle and won't buy another. It definitely helped but I see your point and agree that these products are more for their wallets then out tanks. Tisk tisk but tis life...
What about kalk?! What's your option on that??
What about kalk?! What's your option on that??
gregrocks79
Less talk, more rock!
So pretty much all additives are shenanigans in a bottle?! Lol
I'm gonna stick w my sealab no 28 blocks. They keep me on par for parameters and don't seem to be over dosing.
How do you feel about those blocks?!
I'm gonna stick w my sealab no 28 blocks. They keep me on par for parameters and don't seem to be over dosing.
How do you feel about those blocks?!
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My tank is about 1.5 months old with 50 lbs of base rock and 20 lbs of live. I am starting to see significant coralline growth already, my rocks are covered with small purple dots.
The only thing I have added to the tank is 2 part calcium and alk. I have never seen the need for "magic in a bottle" solutions. Almost everything in a tank can be handled through normal methods and time. Light, calcium and alk in the proper levels will take care of growing coralline.
The only thing I have added to the tank is 2 part calcium and alk. I have never seen the need for "magic in a bottle" solutions. Almost everything in a tank can be handled through normal methods and time. Light, calcium and alk in the proper levels will take care of growing coralline.
gregrocks79
Less talk, more rock!
Totally, you will have hermits climbing the walls, and be scraping it off everything. Looks pretty though...eats a lot of alk as well.
Dosing is something that I haven't even thought a whole lot about just yet as I'm in the very beginning stages of tank setup. I'm sure later on with a tank this size my only option will most likely be a calcium reactor but early on I'm thinking a kalk mix in my top off but that's a completely different subject I gotta delve into!
Reeferz412
Coral Hoarder
I remember when I wanted coralline all over my rocks... and glass... and heaters... and powerheads... and (you get the point:crazy1
I saw an interesting poor mans method a while back that worked for me. You could purchase a rock covered in coralline and get a scalpel or knife and kinda shave the coralline off the rock to get the spores to spread all over the tank. Just hold the rock and scrape it off the rock a bit. It should make the spores spread all over the tank (with the powerheads on) and in no time you will see spots of red, purple, and maybe green all over.
I saw an interesting poor mans method a while back that worked for me. You could purchase a rock covered in coralline and get a scalpel or knife and kinda shave the coralline off the rock to get the spores to spread all over the tank. Just hold the rock and scrape it off the rock a bit. It should make the spores spread all over the tank (with the powerheads on) and in no time you will see spots of red, purple, and maybe green all over.
gregrocks79
Less talk, more rock!
^^ done that too. Works pretty good actually
