Encrusted Algae

[piranha_trader]

Hey all....was wondering if anyone can discuss or reference discussions surrounding live rock and the beneficial encrusted algae that grows on it.

Ive gotten some and there's anything from green stuff to grape purple to light lavender. Im wondering several things about it namely...is it all the same or does each type do something different? Common sense tells me no, they are not the same type/function. Are there ways to speed up the growth process on my rock? Ways to keep it happy....


Thanks in advance

 

[Lynden]

It is almost certainly all coralline algae. If so the best way to keep it happy is low phosphates, high kalk, etcetera; and good lighting. Propagation can be had by scraping it off glass and rocks and therefore spreading the spores.

 

[piranha_trader]

It is almost certainly all coralline algae. If so the best way to keep it happy is low phosphates, high kalk, etcetera; and good lighting. Propagation can be had by scraping it off glass and rocks and therefore spreading the spores.

interesting...so low phosphates is good for coraline algae but bad for the undesirable algae in your tank. natural ways to enhance kalk in tank?

 

[Lynden]

Phosphates "poison" calcium crystal formation, so any calcareous animal or algae will be adversely affected by it, though admittedly crustaceans and snails seem fine with it.

Natural ways to enhance alk, calcium, et cetera... to be honest I can't think of any, but water changes with a high quality salt mixture will keep it high in tanks without large populations of animals that need it.

 

[piranha_trader]

Phosphates "poison" calcium crystal formation, so any calcareous animal or algae will be adversely affected by it, though admittedly crustaceans and snails seem fine with it.

Natural ways to enhance alk, calcium, et cetera... to be honest I can't think of any, but water changes with a high quality salt mixture will keep it high in tanks without large populations of animals that need it.

thanks Lynden. very informative.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, alas there is no "natural" way to enhance calc/alk/mg. You have 4 options for this. Waterchanges, costly but self-explanitory. Dripping kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) is a good way to do things but you have to take care with dripping it so you don't raise pH too much, and it doesn't add mg. Calcium Reactors work too. They're costly to setup, and very complicated, but once running are fire-and-forget and work quite well. Lastly, dosing multi-part additives for each chemical which is a very affordable option but very hands-on

 

[Musho3210]

kalk, in my experiance, requires a LOT of it to actually raise the levels, it is more to maintain at the level it is on, not to raise it. I easily overdosed it when i was using it.