Some DIFFERENT Questions About Coraline

OK guys. I have a couple of questions about Coraline that I haven't quite figured out.
#1. Coraline on the glass. For whatever reason, I have NEVER been able to get it to grow on my glass. I got one speck of it. Once. That's it. I have no idea why. Do particular strains grow better on glass than others?
#2. Any tips or tricks as to not having it die off if it gets exposed to air during a water change?

 

1. If you scrape it, it will spread and grow more (kinda like shaving, lol). Your Alk, Ca, and Mag levels must be high enough to support it though.
2. no, if it's exposed for any sufficient amount of time, it will turn white.

 

My coraline is greyish. Mostly. I think it looks awesome. Anyway, I have a bit in a spot that gets exposed during a WC. Never had it die on me... Is yours? For me, it's only exposed for maybe 10 minutes... but I don't think it actually drys out.

I haven't gotten a speck on my glass, but my Aqua-Tec 30-60 that I run has started getting 1cm spots of it on its intake tube and on the overflow area back into the tank. It took almost six months for that to appear.


Spreading onto the snail shells real well too, I recently noticed.

 

Matter of fact, I've been thinking of ways to have your "problem" but keeping the parameters up for coral health/growth - to figure out an additive or surface treatment to silicon and acrylic and glass surfaces that will inhibit the growth of coralline and other algeas. But that would put Magna-Float out of business, LOL.

 

I do scrape my seeding rock every now and again. Ca is 470, Mg 1500 and dKH at 12.6 last time I tested, so I know my number's are good. My rocks, powerheads, skimmer bucket/return pipe, etc are fairly covered with the stuff. Its even growing inside of the skimmer. It's the strangest thing

 

I doubt half of the stuff growing inside my skimmer has even been classified by science ;D. I know I've seen tube worms, etc in there.

 

Mine is exposed about the same amount of time, mostly the powerheads. It dies right off every time. I have red, various purples, pink, and green. The grren is annoying. Looks more like algae. My pink is awesome though. It glows under the actinics kinda like a blacklight effect.

 

You want it on your glass? That's easy to accomplish. I guess I'm wondering why you want it there.

EDIT: I personally hate coralline algae. To this date, I don't understand the fascination. Contrary to what you've been told, it does NOT stop problem algaes from growing, it does NOT stop your LR from working ala Dr. Schmuck, it however does stop you from seeing your animals. This is JMO....your mileage may vary.

 

It is on the back glass he is wanting it I would assume. I love watching it grow on my back glass and rocks. It gives it great color rather than "royal blue rustoleoum LOL!" I don't know why it doesn't grow on your glass, I wish mine would stop growing on 3 sides of my tank

 

I like coraline also. I never really had problems growing on the glass. I am wondering if your glass is too clean? Maybe it just cannot grab onto it? Just guessing. In terms of no having it die off.....well you need a sump to accomplish that goal. Then do a bunch of small water changes out of the sump only and keep the water level constant in your DT.