Increase the coralline

What are the best tips for increasing my coralline algae? I have been using Reef Crystals instead of Instant Ocean and I bought ESV's B-Ionic Calcium buffer system but haven't started using it yet. My calcium tested at 375.

 

you can use so stuff called Purple Up

 

Is that the stuff made by Kent?

 

yes it is

 

Purple up is a waste of money.

Coralline doesn't require much to grow. Once a tank has been seeded with coralline. Decent lights and maintaining Calc, Alk and Mag at typical reef tank levels are all that's needed.

Edit: I was sold a $22.00 bottle of Purpleup from the LFS and was told that was all I needed to dose. After a cloudy tank and a way out of balance Calcium & Alkalinity ratio, I decided to switch. Now I use a balanced additive that does not cloud the tank when added.

 

OK, I am not going to go as far as to say Purple up is a waste of money – but I will suggest against using it. Many people use it and like it. My opinion is not to add anything to your tank that you can not test for or even know what is in it. Purple up should raise your calcium and magnesium and other “unknown – aka, proprietary ingredients”

With that said, Coralline will grow in nearly any conditions once seeded. Calcium around 350-400, magnesium at 1500, DKH between 7-12, No phosphates or Nitrates and dose Stontium (and test for it as well !)

So in a nut shell – just take care of your tank and the coralline will grow since it requires nothing special beyond a well maintained tank.

You can get coralline seeds from another tank to spawn new colors. Add scrapings and turn off skimmer for about 30 minutes. You can also scrape what you have to spread the seeds around your tank.

 

+1.

Would like to add that Kent Part A/B is a much better product. Part A contains Strontium and Magnesium, it is also the Calcium component of the the 2 parts. I have been using these products with good results for 3 years.

As stated above though, coralline takes some months to really take hold and you can increases it's spread by seeding the tank in the above mentioned manner.

As always test for anything you add, however I believe that if you use the product as intended you really only need to test for Ca, alk and magnesium routinely. Strontium testing is not necessary with this product IMO.

 

Nitrates don't have to be zero...our coralline is taking off and our nitrates aren't zero. It took off after I started dosing calcium. Tonight we (my boyfriend) will be starting the 2 part dosing.

 

Lady Sushi speaks the truth and its the same with Phosphates - but when laying a plan I find it best to plan for the best....thus aim for zero Nitrates and zero phosphates. My point was coralline requires nothing special over a well maintained tank - thus, the goal is low to no Nitrates/Phosphates along with the other parameters outlined above.

 

My trates are at 15ppm and i have coraline growing everywhere! But i have a tuxedo urchin..