Coralline Algae is wearing my gluteous maximus out!

[Anonymous]

I am almost tempted to stop feeding the tank pickling lime. every three days it is almost impossible to see in and when I scrap it is like rust in the water. I know this is a good problem to have but too much of a good thing can start to piss you off

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed. I set up a tank for my parents some 2 years ago when I was in my stuff the tank with live rock phase and the damn thing won't grow coralline on the rocks. It covers every device in their and all of the glass, and I can't reach any of it to scrape because of all the fricking rock!!!

Hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[monkeyboy]

I'd trade coralline algae for hair algae any day...

 

[Anonymous]

6-line, i think ranger's point was: if coralline is a problem, why are you contributing to it by dripping kalk (or pickling lime)?

i'd be curious to know fishaholic's calcium and alk readings; not to mention pH.

 

[coyoteman0]

I would gladly come over and scrape it off, just so I could get some to put in my tank.

Sheesh. W/ my new MH and VHO's and dosing Kalk again I hope I can get it to start growing.

 

[Anonymous]

ph=8.3
calcium=390
Alk= use alk buffer, do no test
250MH over 55 gallon 12 hours, may need a timer

 

[sandmanrieast]

my calcium level is 440 but the nasty stuff isnt growing.......coralline that is......should I use kalk wasser any way ????null

 

[jdeets]

Fishaholic--definitely get an alk test kit. If you're dosing kalk and also supplementing with a buffer, then your alk may be on the high side. The high alk may be fueling excess coralline growth. Since kalk is a balanced method of supplementation, you shouldn't need to add any buffers if you're dosing the kalk properly.

 

[Anonymous]

What are you giving the tank pickling lime for?

 

[6_line]

Ranger,
Pickling lime is us economic reefer's Kalkwasser.
Food grade Pickling lime: Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime, Balls Pickling Lime.
Same stuff as Kalkwasser (basically) different price (cheaper, obviously).

 

[6_line]

I really believe increased ALK is the primary reason for Coralline growth.
I dose kalk and use a weekly buffer (DIY superbuffer) and the algae grows all over my glass, although it's not as evident on the rock (which, unfortunately, is covered with Lobophora

) but i can see the purple stuff on the undersides. IMO and Experience, coralline is a total light loving algae, I believe it tolerates moderate light and can in fact bleah under too intense of lighting, especially all of a sudden.
Nonetheless, I feel Kalk is a great contributor to coralline growth.....

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ranger:
<STRONG>What are you giving the tank pickling lime for?</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ranger,
I was in a hurry this morning so I just posted the stats. Kalkwasser is food grade Hydrated Lime nothing else added. Kalkwasser and Mrs. Wages and Balls pickling lime have the exact purity. the only difference is marketing. My LFS sells a jar of Kalkwasser 250g for $12. Supermarket right down the street sells Balls picklig lime 453g for $1.25, preaty big mark up for a picture of a tank and a german name

Any one know f a good Alk test kit on line. LFS only has Natural Reef for $22.

 

[coyoteman0]

I am really in the same boat -
When I had nothing in my tank except for snails and rock -
I had one star polyp and a clown.
I dripped kalk, added iodine, Coral Vite, Essential elements, buffer and Iron and Mg
under 4 40 watt bulbs over my 55 -
3 03's and 1 10K -
After I added all that the coraline was really on the go - Covering all the rocks w/ a really deep purple.

Then I quit adding everything except for the
Kalk, and it seemed to slow but everything was still looking good -

Then I did a water change (The first one in like 3 months - I know what you are going to say but I was injrued and couldn't do it)
Then it started fading and going away and haven't got it to start again.

 

[Nathan1]

Fishaholic,

There are two alkalinity test kits for the reef keeper; Salifert, and LaMotte. Any other cheap test kit that you might buy at the LFS is not going to give you the accuracy you need.

Salifert:

http://marinedepot.com/a_tk_sf.asp?CartId=
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Co de=PA&Category_Code=Salifert


LaMotte:

http://marinedepot.com/a_tk_lm.asp?CartId=

-Nathan

[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Nathan ]

 

[SPC]

I agree with Nathan, these two test kits are the best to use.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Fishaholic_

Thanks for the reply. I did not know that you could use pickling lime. Don't I feel like an ass for spending 7 ont eh kalkwasser. Never more. I just can't seem to get it going though. I buy live rock covered in it and it seems to start to fade. Getting pretty frustrated. I know you have a 55g what lights are you using?

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you