coralline algae: Why does everyone want it?

[Aqua Keepers]

I think it's ugly. I think It takes up Ca that your corals need. I think it can be argued that as it covers your rocks, it covers the pours. Not too mention it's a PITA to clean off glass and equipment. It's just UGLY!!!

I from what I gather it provides a natural food source for grazers, but the only grazer I can think of is urchins.

I understand that its presence is supposed to prevent nuisance algae from taking root. However, I (and I'm sure others) have seen other problematic algae grow right over top of coralline algae. Plus, shouldn't we be relying on pristine water and good husbandry to take care of algae for us, not an other type of algae?

Then there's the argument that it's an indicator that your parameters are in order. What parameters? And isn't there better ways of knowing when something is out of whack?

So, I ask again, Why does everyone want coralline algae?

 

[ezcompany]

Main reason is because of aesthetics, purple rocks look nicer than bare bone white rocks.
I don't believe that it makes a substantial contribution in stealing nutrients from nuisance algae, and is not a significant food source for grazers either.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

It is just another color to add to the tank. A base color; if you will

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Well, aesthetically I hate it. Let's talk about keeping it out of my system. It's new with all base rock in it. Nothing has been added yet.

 

[eyesinthedrk]

dont add any coraline to your tank and it might stay that way, this my mean re-attaching any corals you buy to new rocks, and you may want to double check any hermits and snils i know ive recieved a few with coraline on the shells

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Tank will be all SPS, and I plan on only buying frags to watch them grow. So, do you think it would be too much stress on an SPS frag if it was shipped to me then reattached to a new rock? I would try to get snails local. This way I can inspect them. Also, could dead coralline on dry base rock turn into live coralline?

 

[woodiecrafts]

You are going to have your work cut out for you. SPS Corals along with alot of other items need calcium and magnesium to grow. That is also two of the main ingredients that Coralline needs as well.

 

[coralnut99]

Some SPS systems can be a little weird with regard to coralline. You would be hard-pressed to find coralline growth on the relatively few rocks in my propogation tanks. But boy can it cover the glass in a hurry. These are barebottom tanks, so it's not an issue on the bottom, but on the sides it is arguably a PITA. I know others whose tanks have the same "selective coralline" issues.

One thing I think you'll find is that the rock won't stay bone white forever regardless of how pristine you water conditions are. It will discolor over time.

Healthy corals are pretty resiliant. It's not uncommon for folks to buy frags and snip them off whatever they are attached to. You shouldn't see any issues from removing then from their attachments. But I've seen some pretty skimpy frags being sold. So if you decide to remove a 3/4" frag, you might be taking a chance on losing a good bit of it if you're not really careful.


As has been said, coralline has many ways to get into your system. You might be able to limit it to a great extent, but I think in the long term, something will introduce it.
No, dead coralline will not re-grenerate itself.

There are tons of different corallines. Have you ever seen the plating varieties? They can be even more intricate than any of the plating Montis.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

I understand that Coralline needs calcium and magnesium to grow. That's one of my problems with it. I dont wanna feed it. I wanna avoid it ever getting introduced.

 

[coralnut99]

fwiw, you may be overly concerned with the strain it puts on your system for Ca and Mg, etc. It's just another organism, and it's actually pretty easily out-competed for these elements in systems where sps and other growth is flourishing. Picture rocks covered by encrusting montis or tabling acros. The easthetics are certainly your choice. But if you're in this for the long haul, I think you'll have to cross paths with it at some point.

 

[Untamed12]

I don't have any particular fondness for coraline algae, but I can't fathom trying to prevent it from being present.

Your rock had better be completely, totally, dead when you start. Bake it in your oven kind of dead.

You'll have to wash absolutely everything you put in the tank, including coral..which probably won't enjoy that process much.

I think that you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

I guess my main question was why everyone want's it. You always see posts asking how to get it. It sounds like an other never ending battle to enjoy my tank.

 

[RicksReefs]

coraline is most certainly the main user of magnesium and can deplete it rapidly. I scrape all the coraline I can from my prop system and walls of the display to help keep my mag and calcium costs low. I currently use about a kilo of calcium every week or so and a half gallon of techM every few months. I let my DT rocks go nuts with several varieties of coraline.
I doubt you'll be able to stop coraline growth in an SPS tank over time.

 

[redfishsc]

I'm quite fond of the purple look, myself.


As far as using water quality ALONE to combat algae, I don't think anyone here would be interested in going to war (a real war) with ONLY a few hand grenades. You want some guns, a knife, some camo, bullets, a radio, ....etc.....

In other words, when fighting algae that are actually a problem, you take whatever advantages you can get.



As a side note, I don't think anyone's said this yet, but YES you can get corraline from dead rock that once had corraline on it.


I am quite skeptical that you will be able to avoid this stuff. One single frag that you buy that has one single "seed" of corraline on it, and you will eventually have it bloom anyhow.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13870479#post13870479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redfishsc

As a side note, I don't think anyone's said this yet, but YES you can get corraline from dead rock that once had corraline on it.

OK, so I've heard yes and I've heard no. Who's got some hard back up? Also, how does this stuff spread/reproduce (or whatever)?

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

My rock set in a dark bin for 2 years w/ water. When lit back up the same funky colors came back w/ no added rock. The oranges.pinks,ect....

 

[liveforphysics]

I've seen coraline algae have patches turn white/grey and die. It started in one place and spread eating little white patches in the coraline.

As a person who also thinks coraline is just a burden to my Ca/Mg/Alk, and a hassle to clean off glass, I was very happy to watch it die. Unfortunately it didn't kill it all off, and in two months, you never would have known anything had ever effected it. Whatever was hurting it didn't hurt the coral.

After I put 10 urchins in my tank, I noticed my calcium demand decreased a lot after they mowed down signifigant amounts of the coraline. They eat neat little zig-zag patterns into the coraline, then go back and mow through it again and again until they begin to eat it faster than it spreads.

 

[barjam]

For aesthetics it certainly beats the alternatives that are going to take up residence in your rocks. I much prefer purple over dirty brown/white rock look myself.

 

[coralnut99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13873677#post13873677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barjam
For aesthetics it certainly beats the alternatives that are going to take up residence in your rocks. I much prefer purple over dirty brown/white rock look myself.

Well, that dirty brown/whire rock is where you would be if you start with dead florida base rock and manage to keep it coralline and nuisance algae free. But aesthetics are pretty much unique to each one of us.

 

[miwoodar]

I like coralline. I like the added colors it brings to my tank and I do not worry about Ca, alk, Mg impacts of having it.

Pito - I need to get you some of my asterina stars. My strain aggressively devours coralline. A good population would keep your rocks clean (of coralline anyways). I pluck them out of the tank and trash them....averaged maybe 30 per week for the past month. If you pay the shipping, I can send you a bag.