Where is the purple coralline algae?

[aaron23]

I just couldnt wait to hear anthony's response to my question.

So here my question begins,

Hi anthony, sorry to bother you but i've gotta question thats been kind of bothering me lately. I've seen all the pics with everybodys coralline all this deep purple. I've had my aquarium for a couple of months now say about 7 months now and there is alot of patches of this green type coralline growth along the sides of the tank. I'm wondering when will the purple come through? I've had low amounts of magnesium this past weeks and have been dosing regularly with a salfert kit. Thanks.
Aaron.

So what do u guys think?
Thanks anthony.
Aaron.

 

[Curtswearing]

I'm not speaking for Anthony but just throwing my two cents in.

If your green coralline is growing, then that indicates that your tank has been stable enough to support the spreading of coralline. Yet you don't have the color you prefer. That means one of two things in my mind. You didn't have many spores of the color you prefer or your lighting spectrum and/or intensity isn't favorable for that species.

Here's my suspicion. You just didn't have many spores of that color. You have to think live a farmer...if you want corn, you have to plant corn seeds. If you want wheat, you have to plant wheat seeds.

Borrow a piece of LR from a local reefer that has the color you want and then scrape it with a screwdriver in front of a powerhead to spread the purple spores. Then you will have so much purple coralline that you'll hate it as much as I do.

 

[NaH2O]

You can also do the same as Curt suggested with a snail shell that is covered in purple coralline...well, minus the screwdriver (unless you want escargot?)...your fingernail scraping away on the coralline should work fine. How are your other water parameters? Have things been pretty stable?

 

[aaron23]

everything is extremely stable, nitrate nitrite - 0 , phos - 0 , alk 3.5 dkh, ph - 8.2, cal - 470, amonia- 0, temp - average 78-89.
Thanks guys i hope to hear what anthony has to say as well.
Very interesting Curtswearing and NaH2o, thank you both very much for your input. i really appreciate it.
Aaron.

 

[flugelnuss]

Then you will have so much purple coralline that you'll hate it as much as I do.

Agreed... I pray not to have any coralline in my upgraded tank. It becomes more of a pain cleaning it off the acrylic or glass!

Jeff

 

[aaron23]

Would anybody have some coralline scrappings to sell i'd be so happy to purchase. If i were to purchase coralline scrappings would it live through 2 day or ground shipping? ( 2 day or several days like 5+ days? ) thanks guys.
Aaron.

 

[alti]

your alk seems a little low and the cal a little high. not a big issue, but considering that this a new tank and with someone new to the hobby it could be a sign that the tank is not being dosed properly. it takes a while to figure out exactly how much cal and alk you need to add and with the additions of new corals consuming the cal/alk it can be a bit confusing at first. when you get into a rhythm on proper dosing and the levels stabilize the coralline seems to take off at that point.i had the same problem in my prop system, but after about 8 months now its starting to really grow like crazy. give it a little more time before you worry about it. as long as your tank is not totally devoid of purple coralline you will get growth. enjoy not having the coralline now. it will be a hassle in the future.

if it would make u feel any better i would be glad to give u a couple small coralline covered rocks .

rob

 

[aaron23]

hehe there's a couple big rocks with a bunch of purp coralline but only the green is spreading. i need to closely monitor everything more. thank you very much alti for respondin great input

 

[NaH2O]

aaron23 - check out this link...it might help you get a handle on what is balanced Calcium and Alkalinity: ChemPlot - A Reef Chemistry Visual Aid

Not sure if you've seen this calculator for supplementing Ca, Alk, Mg: Reef Chemistry Calculator

Hope these help!

 

[Detri]

Doesn't light effect the coloration of coraline?

 

[Curtswearing]

Doesn't light effect the coloration of coraline?

Some species prefer low light, some do fine in higher light, some prefer higher Kelvin ratings. However, light doesn't change the color....it merely tends to support and/or be a hindrance to certain species.

 

[Detri]

Aw ok thanks. I was under the assumtion that photosynthises had a small factor in the color. Like other plant life.

Thanks Curtswearing.

 

[Curtswearing]

The coolest tank with coralline I ever saw had orange, green, pink/purple, and dark maroon all at once. I don't know how they did it because I always end up with one species taking over.

 

[DonW]

You can have all of mine. Urchins will spread coraline very quickly.

Don

 

[Anthony Calfo]

I have nothing useful to add here, Aaron... I agree with the advice given (Curt, Nikki, etc).

I also feel that your Ca is too high likely. You will find that corals and corallines grow better with a moderate but very steady mineral level/concentration.