Question about Corraline Algae

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BubbleMonkeyIII

New member
I really want to get some nice Corraline Growth growing in my tank, (course on the rocks) and recently Im starting to see some small white dots about the diameter of a pencil lead, all around my tank, growing on just about every rock and the back of the tank.. I thought I read somewhere that this is early stages of coveted Corraline algae growth in the spore/starting stage?

Is this true? IF so, i hope so, cuze I really like that purple look.. and there are MANY of these dots on my LR. Im thinking im seeing some early spots on the back of the tank, but cannot be sure.

I had a chemistry problem with my other tank which was sold, broken down and move. Now with this tank, I think I got the parameters down to just about perfect ( CA, ALK, PHOS, TEMP), and have kept the tank quality and temp pretty stable enough for a while to start to see some corraline growth. For whatever reason Its been hard for me to get it to explode as I see in other tanks.

I have T5 lighting using HO 03, a blue, 10k and blue + on my fixture.. I know corraline doesnt SUPPOSIDLY like bright light, but I see tons of tanks with good corraline growth using MH?, so not so sure about that legend either.

I do have some Corraline already, in the tank on some frags, and other rocks, didnt get the PREMIMUM FIJI when setting up, but did get some rocks with it on there. I can tell when its healthy as it gets darker when doing well and parameters are correct. I think I might even have some of that branching/flat monte type corraline that is very nice (have seen that in other tanks) Seems to be growing slowly on a few rocks here and there.

I also have been told there are different COLORS and varieties of this algae which I think, from what I have seen this is not a stage but a specie...This I have to agree with. Pinkish, dark pink, VERY dark pink, etc.... I even have some RED on my LR from TONGA that is BLOOD red. Seems to me the PINK is the quick growing version and the darker Purple takes longer?

I dose with Kalkwasser in my makup water in my auto topoff, and also B IONICS 2x-4 a week.

Anyways Just wondering if these ARENT the beginning stages of corraline.. If not then what are these dots? Just curious.. If so, im looking at some good GROWTH finally!

Yea I know I know.. watch what you wish for.. some of you despise chisling it off your tank front hahaha.. Im hoping it will mostly grow on the rocks and maybe the back.. (wishful thinking?) hahaha

thanks
 
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Sounds like you are doing everything like you should. Keep your alk/kalk up and it will come in due time. The white dots probably are the start of it.
 
picture from another thread

picture from another thread

Found a picture from another thread showing the white dots.. This is what im talking about.. Is this the early stages of corraline algae?

65219dualmnt.jpg
 
Those are a type of fan worm. I agree with the earlier poster - calcium and alkalinity drive success - keep those within acceptable limits and wait a little while longer.
 
dont look like no fan/filter worm to me, they really look like minute calcium deposits. I could be wrong, anyone have any pix of these things upclose? If they are filter worms man they are exploding in my tank.

My bet is they are small calcium spores which are precursers to corraline growth.. But, I need more close up pix of these to be sure they are not some kinda worm,

Anyone else have any opinions? Or pix?
 
IME, Mg levels are very important for coraline growth. Shoot for 1300ppm and your coraline will take off...you might even regret it a bit :D
 
I agree - definitely not coraline algae. I have them all over my tank. They've turned into all sorts of things (not really) but never coraline algae.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8122346#post8122346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
IME, Mg levels are very important for coraline growth. Shoot for 1300ppm and your coraline will take off...you might even regret it a bit :D
Click to expand...

What does IME and Mg stand for?
 
Do you have nerite snails in your tank? I'm pretty certain they leave those white dots behind. I never had them until I got nerite snails. Damned annoying, my mag float won't clean them off completely, so I have to go in with a credit card.
 
Wow thats another angle.... seems like I started a mystery.... I hope someone can put this debate to REST for sure. Sounds like everyone has some radically different opinions of what they are. But how fast these have shown up almost all over, and seemingly a few days if not overnight, today, they are COVERING stuff, makes me wonder if snails could do this so fast all around the tank? I know they can move, but these things are everywhere.

not sure, about the nerite snails, but I bet I do.. What do nerite snails look like? I have plenty of snails thats for sure, some with elongated like shells, a bit different than my turbo snail cleaning crew.. The ones I have have a small snout it seems... unlike the turbo's and I got a new one with my last order of RICS.. Looked like a mini Conche... But I had these before I had that snail come in..

I got my Base Rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater and there were all kinda hitchikers on the rock and in the live sand, as everything is shipped same day VIA airfrieght and underwater, so the stuff they sell is REALLY ALIVE

I have seen them before, but lately man they are COVERING everything in just a few days, Im starting to finally see some corraline on the rocks and back of my tank, to start to grow better I figured this was the start of more around the rest of the tank, now it looks like some kinda SNAIL/worm/fanthing spawning? haha

No one really seems to know what they are, im interested to find out some say worms, now you say snail whatever.. I figured calcium spores pre-curser to corraline growth in new areas.

Now I really wonder what these are.. and even if the snails are the culpret, what would be the purpose of the dots? Could they be some type of egg case or something? or poo type excrements?

Im leaning back to my orignal assesment that they are corraline spores which will eventually turn into coraline dots and grow and grow if conditions are correct. I know I read this somewhere, that white dots are the beginnings... I have to check this out online again, If I find anything i will report back.

The very fact you have to SCRAPE them off also bodes well perhaps that they are calcifications of some sort and the early start of coraline, as coraline itself also has the same characteristics. Right? I know it could be something else but the fact it has to be scraped off and is encrusted like and hard.. seems to tend to my argument.

I just noticed its also exploding in my sump too.. I dont think snails could do that this that fast....

Anyone else have any ideas and pictures? Please chime in if you know do us a favor and fill us in.
 
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Like someone else said, test for Magnesium, Alk and Ca. All three are needed for coraline algae to grow. If you keep these levels stable you will get coraline algae very fast :)
 
Mmm I think the guys above might be right that these are some form of feather worm. Man they sure can spread fast if they are worms.. mmm seem like they can take over easily. "Spirobis" seems to be the specie?

Also they say they are calcareous shells, which would account for the diffuculty removing them from glass.

I found this picture while looking for coralline information


"The two spiral-shaped objects on the leaves are the calcareous tubes of filter-feeding polychete worms (probably in the genus Spirorbis). These worms have feathery feeding appendages (retracted and not visible in this photo) similar to the feeeding appendages of feather duster worms.


"
algae_Corallines_Thalassia.jpg


And another

JCS%20Spirorbis%20spirorbis%2024089.jpg
 
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Yep mystery Solved.. they are "spirorbis" feather worms. Guys above were correct.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/searc...=7237798&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

According to what I read on here, they bloom in newer tanks, (which mine is) and will do well in healthy systems, so im hoping thats a good sign my levels are correct for them to explode.. my only hope is the population will CRASH before they take over EVERYTHING which some have said will happen. :)

I also noticed they are VERY heavy in my sump where my pods are exploding I think I agree with some others they might be feeding on my large amp/copepods population down there.

Also another question I have for everyone is that I started feeding INVERT food which is a very FINE form of food that the filter feeders and soft corals can digest easily. Im also wondering if this helped the population of this worm also expand?

I just hope they dont take over.

Wow learn something new everyday.. I think this is the best part of this hobby as no matter how long you do it, you always learn and discover something new (at least to yourself)
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8127309#post8127309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BubbleMonkeyIII
Also another question I have for everyone is that I started feeding INVERT food which is a very FINE form of food that the filter feeders and soft corals can digest easily. Im also wondering if this helped the population of this worm also expand?
Click to expand...

Yes, it probably is feeding these worms. Why are you adding this stuff to your tank? What do you have in your tank that you feel requires this feeding?
 
Softies like this type of food... Anemones, Sunflower polyps, regular green star polyps, frogspawn, xenia, open brain, lobe corals, even RICs prob eat this stuff.

I will cut back on it, most likely as I found something that seems to be working even better.. I have found a product that works REALLY good with corals and ZOOs especially is SEACHEM's Reef Builder Plus with Amino Acid and Vitamins.. Man my softies and RICS and all my other corals have just exploded since I started feeding this stuff to my tank.. I stopped using it awile back and my Zoos just about died off.. I started up again and they are making a STRONG comback. Also my RICs have NEVER looked so meaty.. Very healthy looking!

http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...folder_id=282574488339133&bmUID=1156397487601

Fragfarmer told me about it, said it didnt pollute the tank and he is right, (he said other liquid foods give you algae, which i found to be true) and the corals really like it. He was right about that too. Pretty cheap too at Petsmart.. like 6$ for a large bottle. Im going to feed this stuff to my corals EVERY DAY and have been with GREAT success for the past few months.

I just pour a capful or so in with my fish food when feeding my fish daily. Not sure if the worms like it to, but so be it.. I will take them with the good this stuff is doing for my other corals.

hahahah
 
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