[e_baer]

how do i get it to grow on my rocks? I have it all over powerheads, glass, everything but the rocks. why is that? and yes, my calcium level is good at 420, and there is enough light, and enough flow. i dont understand. tank has been set up for about 2 years now.

[Kevin W]

i have herd scrubbing with a tooth brush will help it spread and do you add iodine?

[msbdiving]

Here is the big reason. It won't because.................. ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ....You want it to. Sorry, couldn't resist. You might want to scrape off some of the spores, turn off the protein skimmer for about a day or so and let them settle on your rocks if that is a possibility.
How to Grow Coralline Algae in a Saltwater Aquarium

[e_baer]

msdiving, i have tried that already, no matter what i do, it wont grow on my rocks. i used to add iodine, but i have not for a while. I have a test kit, i guess i should start testing.

[lynnvangsnes]

Has your rock ever had coralline algae on it? I don't think it will grow if it hasn't been present before.

[Lowej82]

my LFS suks tryed to buy a piece of LR out of there tank that was covered in dif colors of purple 100%, I wanted to break it up and seed tank with it. they wouldnt sell it to me, maybe you could try that get a heavy covered piece of LR break it up a little and place in different spots of your LR within the DT

[msbdiving]

Ebaer- If your Ca tests fine, check your Mg levels.

[pogodzib]

You may have critters such as hermit crabs and the like that eat the coralline off the rocks before it has a chance to cover them. Most of those types of critters stay on the rock and not on tank walls or powerheads.

[e_baer]

hmm, i do have 2 urchins, and yes, by rock does have coraline on it, just not very much, has a little bit of purple and some pink.

I do need to get a mag test kit.

i will be moving one of my urchins to my 30 by the end of this week.

[pogodzib]

Originally Posted by e_baer

hmm, i do have 2 urchins

I think you found your answer.

[e_baer]

but the urchins are constantly on the glass as well.

[401jas]

do you dose strontium (sp)? My tank is only 4 months old and i have coraline growth on everything!

I put in 1 drop per 10 gal every two days.....i'll throttle that back to twice a week in a week or so. I also dose iodine....i have the salafert tester too and the levels do not show up on my tester and it teset iodine, iodate, ect.

I took a knife and graised sever shades of coraline on a piece of LR in my tank. The dark purple kind is my fav, then the red and then the pink.

GOOD LUCK

[Lowej82]

I have a little pur---pink, and then some red. I also have a green/trq more of a its not slimy at all so I guess it is coraline also

[e_baer]

whateve, i only have one urchin in my tank now, so ill see how things progress over the next few weeks.

[lynnvangsnes]

Look here for your answers:
How to Grow Coralline Algae in a Saltwater Aquarium

[e_baer]

lol, i know how to grow coraline algae!

it just wont, but since i moved my urchins out of my 55 about a week ago, i have noticed an improvement.

[e_baer]

just to inform you all, and to show a pic of what i am dealing with.




notice the amunt of algae on the glass, then on the rocks right next to it.

[Lowej82]

so it covers all but the LR

[e_baer]

that is correct.

yopu can also kinda see in this pic how its on the glass, but not on the rocks.

[Kevin W]

you have tried to scrape some off the glass right, and place it on the rocks or just into the water flow to mix around in the tank?

[e_baer]

yup, believe me, i have tried EVERYTHING!

but since i have taken the urchins out, it seems to be growing a little but better. i have also added another 500gph from my return.

[Lowej82]

How long once you noticed a few little specs on yourglass did it take it to get to this point?

[e_baer]

2 months...about.

but since i have added my SEIO's, a lot more pink has formed on the back glass.

[jvharding]

Try to direct the flow into your live rock Coraline algae loves areas of current and thirves there. You probably have good current on that wall. JMO What happened to your Spraybar Build? These dead areas in your live rock will not promote the growth of Coraline.

[e_baer]

i finished the spray bar, and it is on the back of the tank. i have 1/2 of the return going to the bar, and other half just spraying out. i am trying to get more water to go out the bar, so im gonna get an endcap and put it on the non-spray bar part adn drill a medium sized home in the end cap.