Coralline Accelerators

Do chemicals that are supposed to jump start the growth of coralline algae, like Kent's Marine Purple Tech or Instant Ocean's Reef Accelerator actually work? I just started a 40 breeder with 50lbs of dry base rock and I wanted to know if these chemicals actually work or if they are just a way to get more money from new hobbyist?

My other, related question is, since I have no live rock in my tank will coralline algea grow on its own or do I need to introduce a source of it (such as live rock) to get it to start encrusting my rocks?

 

You will have to seed the coraline with a piece of live rock that already has some on it. Best way to do it is to hold it in front of a powerhead and scrape the coraline.

 

The products you mention do work , they are a source of calcium, alkalinity and magnesium and these ions are what coralline algae utilise to grow
do you need them to end up with coralline - no you do not

you will need a source of coralline in your tank
a piece of live rock, that you scrape with a blade or end of a screwdriver
to disperse particles of coralline around your aquarium is a good way of speeding up the process
when coralline grows on the plastics/ acrylic surfaces, scrapping these will also further seed your rockwork