milesmiles902
New member
What is Coralline algae?
When I first came into the hobby of reef aquariums, I had always heard the term coralline algae. I was always told it was the colorful stuff on the rocks in veteran tanks. That didn't help at all. I wanted to know what coralline algae REALLY is. My local fish store told me it was beneficial and I took there word.
Coralline algae is a plant. It sure doesn't look like normal algae we see in our tanks, but it is very similar and yet different. The big difference is the precipitated calcareous cell wall. This is what gets left behind in the tank when the algae dies to form coralline rock. Slowly layers and layers of dead algae cover the rock and produce a variety of brilliant colors. Other times the algae sloughs off a layer of epithelial cells[6]. Just like how we shed skin, coralline algae does the same with its cells to allow growth of new healthier cells. It has been known that some species of coralline can actually accumulate 9.1g of calcium carbonate [CaCO<sub>3</sub>] per m<sup>2</sup> per day[3]. That is a lot of accumulation. No wonder it is everywhere.
So is it beneficial? Well, in general for reef aquariums....YES! It allows a CaCO<sub>3</sub> surface for the coral to build upon. Once this layer of CaCO<sub>3</sub> appears it is then known as Calcite. The majority of the CaCO<sub>3</sub> structure on most reefs is due to coralline algae growth. Although, this isn't the only benefit to reef aquariums. Coralline cements the structure of corals together. It is one of many essential ways for coral reefs to bind together and make a stable structure. For any aquarist that wants an aquarium with a high flow in their aquarium or a stable eco-system. Coralline is a must.
Types of Coralline algae?
Coralline comes in all different shapes and sizes.
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/untitledid_WWM_algae.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/untitledid_WWM_algae.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo untitledid_WWM_algae.jpg"/></a>
Green
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/030804PW_05_leslie_lg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/030804PW_05_leslie_lg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 030804PW_05_leslie_lg.jpg"/></a>
Pink
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/2012-08-13_11-49-11_180.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/2012-08-13_11-49-11_180.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2012-08-13_11-49-11_180.jpg"/></a>
Purple
.....please forgive me if some of these pictures do not match the colors.....for I..... am partially colorblind.
In general, there are two types of coralline. Articulated types that grow on plants or granular particles and the non-articulated type, which grows on rocks, shells and other benthic marine organisms[2]. The articulated type has been dated back to the Paleozoic era and as early as the Mississippian period[5]. Yeah, that is right. 318 million years ago. While the non-articulated versions date to the Ediacaran Period[7].
Identification
Is that coralline in my tank?!? Nah, that's my friend cyanobacteria.
In reality it can be hard to tell at times. There are so many species of both coralline algae and cyanobacteria that it can be tough. The easiest and most simple way to tell is try and scratch it off. Usually if it is cyanobacteria it will come right off. Cyanobacteria also tends to be a bit slimy when you touch it, while coralline is very chalky. Also, look at the flow in the aquarium. Commonly, cyanobacteria tends to develop in areas of low flow or dead spots. Coralline grows in all types of flows.
*Warning if the rock has been exposed to the light for a long period of time before, this WON'T work*
Also, if your ever having trouble telling if there is actually growth of coralline or not. For me an easy way is to flip over a rock that has been sitting in the sand. The majority of the time it is the original color of rock when I bought it and has no coralline on it. This way you can compare your hopeful "coralline" rock to the true color of the rock.
What coralline algae needs?
Nutrients
If I had to care for a baby and its name was coralline.....what would I feed it? Not baby food of course. I would make a baby bottle full of RO/DI water with Calcium, Magnesium and a few other essentials. In reality, coralline really doesn't need too much to grow. Now I am not saying starve your baby, but keep it on your mind. If you are doing regular water changes WITH RO/DI water I think you'll start to see some growth soon enough. Therefore I really wouldn't sweat the chance of it not appearing. Although, there is optimal parameters for growth of coralline[4]:
Salinity= 1.024ppm-12dKH
Ca<sup>2+</sup>= 350-480ppm
Alkalinity= 7-12dKH
Mg<sup>2+</sup>= 1200-1300ppm
NO<sup>3-</sup>= 0-5ppm for best conditions
NO<sup>2-</sup>= 0ppm or as best as possible
NH<sub>3</sub>= 0ppm again. It just helps to always have nitrates, nitrites, ammonia and phosphates low.
PO<sub>3</sub><sup>3-</sup>=0-0.5ppm
pH=8.2-8.3. General seawater is 8.14
Lighting
Plants need light. Coralline needs light. Simple as that. It has been shown that coralline can exist in tide pools and at a depth of 270m[1]. The growth rates are generally slow, but since light still penetrates to this depth they can survive. That being said, it is really hard to not get coralline to grow under any type of light.
I have heard that under LED's the growth is generally slow, unless the light is very intense. I personally have a metal halide, so I cannot contest to this. No matter what though coralline will grow in due time.
How to get it grow
Techniques
Live rock is the most common way to start the growth of coralline algae. Not all live rock has coralline algae on it, but the vast majority does. It is the easiest hitchhiker to pick up when buying corals or rock. If you don't have any coralline algae whatsoever, ask your local fish store for some. Most likely they will suggest a supplement, but it doesn't hurt to ask for a few scrapings or a cultured live rock. If you are trying to get it to grow in the aquarium there are a few techniques that can increase the rate at which it colonizes the tank.
As a whole, good water quality and time are all you need. I don't know who said it, and I think I read it in a signature of a user. :lolspin: "The only good things that happen in an aquarium, happen slowly." <-That guy is speaking the truth
How to get rid of it
In water
For me the easiest way to take care of anything in my tank is with the power of mother nature. Finding a critter that works 24/7 to manage a specific issue is great. Urchins or chitons are a very easy fixes for coralline. Other options are snails and crabs. I have a few emerald crabs in my tank. Yes, I crabs and I love'em. Inverts are the backbone of any aquarium and always will be.
If the coralline issue is on a window or pane. Just put a metal scraper or razor to it. I would be VERY careful on an acrylic tank, as it might scratch the window. It might take some work, but will come off eventually. Another option is to run the mag-float over the spot every day or even twice a day. This can be very useful.
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/CorallineAlgae.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/CorallineAlgae.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo CorallineAlgae.jpg"/></a>
Over-run Window Coralline
Out of water
I remember the first time I dropped acid. Yes, dropped acid on CaCO<sub>3</sub> in a geology lab. It sizzled like I had never seen before. All acids bubble when reacting with bases. CaCO<sub>3</sub> is a basic molecule and when reacting with an acid creates CO<sub>2</sub>, which causes the bubbling. Therefore since coralline is primarily made up of CaCO<sub>3</sub> it will dissolve when a acid is added to it.
There can be a time when coralline is just too much for any one rock. The easiest way to solve the issue is to soak a rock in literally any acid. Some people use vinegar[CH<Sub>3</sub>COOH] others use hydrochloric acid[HCl]. Soaking the rocks over night in a acid with a power head moving the water will help the process. All acids will work and the longer the better.
If the issue is a power head or other apparatus in the aquarium. There are heavy chemicals that one can buy to get rid of unwanted coralline. I get a cupful of vinegar and a brush to remove it because I am cheap. :lol: Along with soaking it if time is on my hands.
In general coralline is only good for the aquarium. It is helps in so many more ways than it damages. Flow it, Show it as long as god can grow it.
Sources
When I first came into the hobby of reef aquariums, I had always heard the term coralline algae. I was always told it was the colorful stuff on the rocks in veteran tanks. That didn't help at all. I wanted to know what coralline algae REALLY is. My local fish store told me it was beneficial and I took there word.
Coralline algae is a plant. It sure doesn't look like normal algae we see in our tanks, but it is very similar and yet different. The big difference is the precipitated calcareous cell wall. This is what gets left behind in the tank when the algae dies to form coralline rock. Slowly layers and layers of dead algae cover the rock and produce a variety of brilliant colors. Other times the algae sloughs off a layer of epithelial cells[6]. Just like how we shed skin, coralline algae does the same with its cells to allow growth of new healthier cells. It has been known that some species of coralline can actually accumulate 9.1g of calcium carbonate [CaCO<sub>3</sub>] per m<sup>2</sup> per day[3]. That is a lot of accumulation. No wonder it is everywhere.
So is it beneficial? Well, in general for reef aquariums....YES! It allows a CaCO<sub>3</sub> surface for the coral to build upon. Once this layer of CaCO<sub>3</sub> appears it is then known as Calcite. The majority of the CaCO<sub>3</sub> structure on most reefs is due to coralline algae growth. Although, this isn't the only benefit to reef aquariums. Coralline cements the structure of corals together. It is one of many essential ways for coral reefs to bind together and make a stable structure. For any aquarist that wants an aquarium with a high flow in their aquarium or a stable eco-system. Coralline is a must.
Types of Coralline algae?
Coralline comes in all different shapes and sizes.
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/untitledid_WWM_algae.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/untitledid_WWM_algae.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo untitledid_WWM_algae.jpg"/></a>
Green
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/030804PW_05_leslie_lg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/030804PW_05_leslie_lg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 030804PW_05_leslie_lg.jpg"/></a>
Pink
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/2012-08-13_11-49-11_180.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/2012-08-13_11-49-11_180.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2012-08-13_11-49-11_180.jpg"/></a>
Purple
.....please forgive me if some of these pictures do not match the colors.....for I..... am partially colorblind.
In general, there are two types of coralline. Articulated types that grow on plants or granular particles and the non-articulated type, which grows on rocks, shells and other benthic marine organisms[2]. The articulated type has been dated back to the Paleozoic era and as early as the Mississippian period[5]. Yeah, that is right. 318 million years ago. While the non-articulated versions date to the Ediacaran Period[7].
Identification
Is that coralline in my tank?!? Nah, that's my friend cyanobacteria.
In reality it can be hard to tell at times. There are so many species of both coralline algae and cyanobacteria that it can be tough. The easiest and most simple way to tell is try and scratch it off. Usually if it is cyanobacteria it will come right off. Cyanobacteria also tends to be a bit slimy when you touch it, while coralline is very chalky. Also, look at the flow in the aquarium. Commonly, cyanobacteria tends to develop in areas of low flow or dead spots. Coralline grows in all types of flows.
*Warning if the rock has been exposed to the light for a long period of time before, this WON'T work*
Also, if your ever having trouble telling if there is actually growth of coralline or not. For me an easy way is to flip over a rock that has been sitting in the sand. The majority of the time it is the original color of rock when I bought it and has no coralline on it. This way you can compare your hopeful "coralline" rock to the true color of the rock.
What coralline algae needs?
Nutrients
If I had to care for a baby and its name was coralline.....what would I feed it? Not baby food of course. I would make a baby bottle full of RO/DI water with Calcium, Magnesium and a few other essentials. In reality, coralline really doesn't need too much to grow. Now I am not saying starve your baby, but keep it on your mind. If you are doing regular water changes WITH RO/DI water I think you'll start to see some growth soon enough. Therefore I really wouldn't sweat the chance of it not appearing. Although, there is optimal parameters for growth of coralline[4]:
Salinity= 1.024ppm-12dKH
Ca<sup>2+</sup>= 350-480ppm
Alkalinity= 7-12dKH
Mg<sup>2+</sup>= 1200-1300ppm
NO<sup>3-</sup>= 0-5ppm for best conditions
NO<sup>2-</sup>= 0ppm or as best as possible
NH<sub>3</sub>= 0ppm again. It just helps to always have nitrates, nitrites, ammonia and phosphates low.
PO<sub>3</sub><sup>3-</sup>=0-0.5ppm
pH=8.2-8.3. General seawater is 8.14
Lighting
Plants need light. Coralline needs light. Simple as that. It has been shown that coralline can exist in tide pools and at a depth of 270m[1]. The growth rates are generally slow, but since light still penetrates to this depth they can survive. That being said, it is really hard to not get coralline to grow under any type of light.
I have heard that under LED's the growth is generally slow, unless the light is very intense. I personally have a metal halide, so I cannot contest to this. No matter what though coralline will grow in due time.
How to get it grow
Techniques
Live rock is the most common way to start the growth of coralline algae. Not all live rock has coralline algae on it, but the vast majority does. It is the easiest hitchhiker to pick up when buying corals or rock. If you don't have any coralline algae whatsoever, ask your local fish store for some. Most likely they will suggest a supplement, but it doesn't hurt to ask for a few scrapings or a cultured live rock. If you are trying to get it to grow in the aquarium there are a few techniques that can increase the rate at which it colonizes the tank.
- If you notice a rock in the aquarium that has coralline growth use it as a seed. Some people scrape that rock with a wire brush to break apart the coralline. This essentially creates multiple starts to spread across the tank.
- As said before a "seeded" rock is key. Recently, I just upgraded my aquarium and noticed that there wasn't much growth. So I put the rock near the powerhead to help spread coralline all through my tank. Some people even go to the extent of getting multiple fine scrapings and put them through the power head to spread it randomly.
- Tile. I have heard of people using tile to spread coralline around the tank to strategic locations. Maybe you want this color of coralline growing here or there. In the long run it will populate everything, but while it lasts it might look good.
- Supplements are useful. I am not going to suggest any specific supplement to try in your tank because I bet they all will work over time. I will say that you should read the instructions carefully. As adding too much of anything is never good and a lot of the time they suggest a target Calcium or Alkalinity level.
As a whole, good water quality and time are all you need. I don't know who said it, and I think I read it in a signature of a user. :lolspin: "The only good things that happen in an aquarium, happen slowly." <-That guy is speaking the truth
How to get rid of it
In water
For me the easiest way to take care of anything in my tank is with the power of mother nature. Finding a critter that works 24/7 to manage a specific issue is great. Urchins or chitons are a very easy fixes for coralline. Other options are snails and crabs. I have a few emerald crabs in my tank. Yes, I crabs and I love'em. Inverts are the backbone of any aquarium and always will be.
If the coralline issue is on a window or pane. Just put a metal scraper or razor to it. I would be VERY careful on an acrylic tank, as it might scratch the window. It might take some work, but will come off eventually. Another option is to run the mag-float over the spot every day or even twice a day. This can be very useful.
<a href="http://s59.photobucket.com/user/flameboy2992/media/CorallineAlgae.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/flameboy2992/CorallineAlgae.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo CorallineAlgae.jpg"/></a>
Over-run Window Coralline
Out of water
I remember the first time I dropped acid. Yes, dropped acid on CaCO<sub>3</sub> in a geology lab. It sizzled like I had never seen before. All acids bubble when reacting with bases. CaCO<sub>3</sub> is a basic molecule and when reacting with an acid creates CO<sub>2</sub>, which causes the bubbling. Therefore since coralline is primarily made up of CaCO<sub>3</sub> it will dissolve when a acid is added to it.
There can be a time when coralline is just too much for any one rock. The easiest way to solve the issue is to soak a rock in literally any acid. Some people use vinegar[CH<Sub>3</sub>COOH] others use hydrochloric acid[HCl]. Soaking the rocks over night in a acid with a power head moving the water will help the process. All acids will work and the longer the better.
If the issue is a power head or other apparatus in the aquarium. There are heavy chemicals that one can buy to get rid of unwanted coralline. I get a cupful of vinegar and a brush to remove it because I am cheap. :lol: Along with soaking it if time is on my hands.
In general coralline is only good for the aquarium. It is helps in so many more ways than it damages. Flow it, Show it as long as god can grow it.
Sources
- Aguirre, Julio, Robert Riding, and Juan C. Braga. "œDiversity of Coralline Red Algae: Origination and Extinction Patterns from the Early Cretaceous to the Pleistocene." Paleobiology 26.4 (2000): 651"“667. Web. 23 May 2013.
- "Articulated Coralline Algae." Articulated Coralline Algae. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 2001. Web. 23 May 2013.
- Chisholm, John R. M. "œPrimary Productivity of Reef-Building Crustose Coralline Algae." Limnology and Oceanography 48.4 (2003): 1376"“1387. Web. 23 May 2013.
- Hauter, Stan, and Debbie Hauter. "How to Grow Coralline Algae in a Saltwater Aquarium." About.com Saltwater Aquariums. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013.
- Johnson, J. Harlan. "œAncestry of the Coralline Algae." Journal of Paleontology 30.3 (1956): 563"“567. Web. 23 May 2013.
- Keats, Derek. "Importance of Corallines." Importance of Corallines. University of Western Keep, n.d. Web. 23 May 2013.
- Xiao, Shuhai et al. "œPhosphatized Multicellular Algae in the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation, China, and the Early Evolution of Florideophyte Red Algae." American Journal of Botany 91.2 (2004): 214"“227. Web. 23 May 2013.
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