Coraline Algae

[craigybaby37]

hi there BigC i donit meen to high jack the topic but i remember on ur post for your tank u have going on you was having troubles finding mirror/chrome reflectors for your t5 lamps and i just fort i would let you know that i have recently fitted a T5 light into the lid of my tank and have used a Interpet reflector and the bulb fits perfectly. if ya wanna know anymore just ask.

Craig

 

[littleme1969]

Hi littleme,
good to hear from you again are you going to update your thread, any more been happening. I'll be using the same salt mix as you which umean that the calcium levels will be as high and also my light levels will not be as high as I'm not using MH.

Hi Big C
Your Brine Shrimp eggs I bought off you a while ago are going down a treat with my new Percula. Sadly its the only thing I can get the little monkey to eat..lol
Yes I'll be doing an update later lots of pics as per usual, got my first fish and a few small corals
I think my Calcium is high due the hardnes of our tap water rather than the Coral Pro salt. Even after going through the RO unit my calcim level is still quite high. But the Coral pro does say to expect around 450 calcium which is good for most corals. Ordered your rock yet ?

 

[BigC]

Ordered your rock yet ?

Nah!
Heres the story so far, I've bought some more eggcrate. and am busy sticking pieces of biorb ceramic media to it (sad person with anorak) with silicone. This I am going to frame the back an side walls of the tank, them I am going to buy just a few pieces of LR and let it seed the whole thing as I'm in no mad rush on this. The whole internal walls should look amazing (hopefully LOL) then with the liverock in the centre ground then maybe I can create an interesting diorama.
Here's where I got the idea from all be it crudely. Click (HERE)
As I said it's gonna take a bit of time for the next post on my thread that will be about the above with pics, I'd better get back to my tube of silicone. (Incidentally my familly think I've lost my marbles and are going to have me sectioned)
Be interesting to see you new fish and corals. What else are you going to try and give the clownfish for besides BBS.
Regards
BigC

 

[littleme1969]

Wow that looks a bit long winded..lol , Id be worried about things getting trapped and rotting behind that or maybe thats just me being female..lol
Have you got some pics? will be really interesting to see how its going You must have some real patience, god I would want my tank up and running by now, or is that again a female thing, want everything done yesterday or before if possible..lol

 

[BigC]

Tank maintenance is the key to all this and good cleaning regime is what is required here, the back is accessible as its not totally against the back pane as that is were the heater and pipeworks are hiding. Its also my intention on giving the tank a "Hurricane Effect" from time to time which in effect is to force a strong surge of water totally around the aquarium to flush any detrius from out of the holes and crannies. Apparently it's a good thing to do about twice a year. I've only got a little bit done but will post a pic on my thread later on today. It looks good (bighead) and I know I'll probably get slated for it, but I'll persist with the venture and see it to fruition good or bad, time will tell. I am much too long in the tooth now to get excited about doing things quickly. Good maintenance is essential yes but other things need planning and patience is a virtue. I like the planning phase and the final setting up is the end product. I am always thinking even to the point of family members asking questions and I am un aware of what they are saying cause I'm deep in thought on a particular problem. Dam Fishkeeping, my family's right "I am going insane"
Regards
MAD BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Ok let's dispel some myths here. Coraline doesn't really care much what the lighting is as long as it's something. BigC, your proposed lights will be more than enough.

Purple up works in some systems and not in others. Those that are primarily deficient in alkalinity will benefit from purple up addition (its primarily an alk suppliment). Those that are primarily deficient in calcium will actually suffer from the addition of purple up. Either way, you have to know what you're doing/dosing or you can have big problems.

What they do like/require for fast growth is high calcium, high alkalinity, high magnesium, and absoloutely most importantly, low phosphates. Gotta keep it below 0.03ppm. High phosphaes inhibits calcification and since coraline grows via calcification, you do the math

 

[BigC]

Good reply as alway Fletch!
I tend to steer clear of any additives unless it was absolutely necessary and would rather the coraline grow from the proper water parameters rather than adding out of the bottle quick fixes. I am aware of the phosphate/calcification issue and will strive to get the balance right.
Thanks again
BigC

 

[n3ont3tra]

What they do like/require for fast growth is high calcium, high alkalinity, high magnesium, and absoloutely most importantly, low phosphates. Gotta keep it below 0.03ppm.

I guess I need to get a new test kit. The intervals are 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10.