Coralline Growth (or absense of)

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012.

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  1. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Why can't I get any coralline growth in my tank? It's a 20 gallon that was established 1 year ago. The lights were left off from April 2011-January 2012. So they have been on for roughly 3 months now. There is a source of coraline in the tank (came on the back of a snail which I scrapped into the water to seed), but it has since bleached. I just introduced a small piece of rock with vibrant coralline growth on it.

    Lighting: T5 unit: 28 total watt, 2-bulb- 1x actinic and 1x 10000 K- both 3 weeks old (New 96 watt, 4-bulb T5 HO about to be purchased). This unit provided an abundance a coraline growth 3 years ago.

    Photo Period: Roughly 10 hours daily

    Temperature: 75-80 degrees

    Salinity: 33 ppt (1.0245)

    Nitrates: <10 ppm

    Nitrites: 0 ppm

    Ammonia: 0

    Phosphates: unknown (Assume 0 since I don't feed the tank and the distilled water that I use is phosphate free)

    KH: >300 ppm

    pH: 8.0-8.4

    Calcium: 480 ppm
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    #1

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  2. konadiver

    konadiver Astrea Snail

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    Calcium? Magnesium?
     
    konadiver, Apr 28, 2012
    konadiver, Apr 28, 2012
    #2
  3. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    How long has our seed corralline been in there?

    Check out my DT in my vid in my sig.
    Check out the corralline on my back wall alone!

    This was with PC lights mostly, I now have LEDs

    I have never dosed anything and in 11 months, I have gobs of corralline. Be pateint, it wil grow/spread.
     
    Todd_Sails, Apr 28, 2012
    Todd_Sails, Apr 28, 2012
    #3
  4. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Your KH is very high shouldn't be much more than 215. I second the Ca and Mg.
     
    2in10, Apr 28, 2012
    2in10, Apr 28, 2012
    #4
  5. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    The snail that had it on his back was placed in the tank 6-8 weeks ago and the coralline on his back has since bleached. I just placed the mushroom rock with the coralline algae into the tank on Thursday.
     
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    #5
  6. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Didn't realize I left off calcium (480 ppm). I don't have a means of testing magnesium.
     
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
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  7. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Mind you, that measurement was taken using a dip stick. How would one lower it?
     
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    #7
  8. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    I would start by getting liquid test kits and confirming all of the numbers. Dip sticks are notoriously inaccurate. If it is good and you are dosing stop dosing until it gets down to no lower than 125. Otherwise a water change with mixed water with the right parameters.

    API liquid kits are decent but you want to use kits from Seachem, Salifert or Elos for the best quality.
     
    2in10, Apr 28, 2012
    2in10, Apr 28, 2012
    #8
  9. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Liquid tests are on the shopping list. I dosed calcium a year ago when I first established the tank, but I haven't dosed anything since then. I have done 7 gallons of water changes over the past 2 weeks.
     
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 28, 2012
    #9
  10. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    I would wait until you get the liquid tests or go to a LFS to confirm your numbers.
     
    2in10, Apr 28, 2012
    2in10, Apr 28, 2012
    #10
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