problem growing coralline algae?

[tomreefer]

I have no idea why coraline isn't growing on my tank glass, etc. Could it be the lights? Or how I have them set at?

Parameters

Calcium 395

Alk 8.4 dkh

Also with red sea pro kits.. Do I take reading once color changes? On the alk looks more like orange than burgundy as finished color.. According to my ph probe my ph a little low at 7.93 not sure if that is accurate..

I have two A360we Kessils on my 40 breeder.. I can show you my profile if necessary on the lights

 

[tomreefer]

I just dosed my Alk to 9.4 and my calcium to 420.. Now my PH is 8.46

 

[toothybugs]

1) Don't jump your alk that fast that quick.

2) Coraline is very dependent on higher magnesium levels and less-intense lighting. I get my best coralline growth with my mag north of 1400, like 1450ish, and in the shadier spots. You will get growth under the lights but probably slower. What are you mag levels and lighting set to?

3) How old is your tank? Things need to stabilize for probaly 2-3 months before you can start seeing reliable coralline growth (IME, anyway)

 

[scooter31707]

Coralline loves Ca and Mg. IMO, I would raise the Ca up to 420-450 range. I could be mistaken, but I believe that coralline takes awhile to come. I am going on a year with my tank and I am now just seeing signs of coralline growth. Just be patient, it will come and you will wish it didn't, cause it will be everywhere.

 

[tomreefer]

Doesn't coraline also like more blue than white on the spectrum? Maybe thats my problem.. On the Alk I thought you can raise 1dkh per day and be fine

 

[ThRoewer]

I found that coralline needs two basic things to grow besides the right water parameters and some light (but not too much): high flow and clean, algae free substrates.

It won't grow fast on green rocks, even if the surfaces seems clean. The green algae deep in the rock will prevent coralline spores from settling down. The thing that helps in such a case is a diadema urchin. They grind the rock surface clean but don't touch any existing coralline patches.

The other reason may be that you don't have enough coralline yet to get a growth spurt.

If all parameters are right see if you can get some coralline "flakes" from a LFS's tank. Put those fragments into a blender with some of your tanks water and blend it to a fine mist. Then pour this mix into your tank with pumps and skimmer off for a while.
The above should ideally only be done 3 months before adding fish or coral as there is a risk of importing some fish or coral parasites.

Ca, Mg and Alkalinity should be right in the window that is good for stony corals.
NO3 and PO4 seem to be rather uncritical.

When I added some clean white live rock (came out of a dark sump with many hungry algae eaters) it took only a couple of days before it was covered in purple dots and now, 2 to 3 months later some of these rocks are solid purple.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Do you have any coralline at all growing in your tank? If not you need a couple of snails that are covered in coralline or get a couple small pieces of LR with coralline on it. If that doesn't work your LFS might let you take some scrapings off of one of their rock curing tanks.