why is coralline algae good?

[wschang812]

why is coralline algae good compared to other algae growth? what does the algae do that is benefitial?

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Coralline algae really does not do anything beneficial other than appeal to the eye.

On the cons side, it eats up your iodiine, magnsium, and calcium levels.

But it looks good!

 

[DrCooper]

Hold on, it doesnt do anything good? I was under the impression it did! I mean it looks nice but not that nice hahaha. So should i scrap it all off the back of my aquarium then?

 

[chvynva916]

The reason to have coralline is mostly for aesthetics. (1) It looks good itself (opinion, of course) and (2) it can outcompete less aesthetic algae (again, opinion).

It's also worth noting that even to the extent that corraline doesn't improve the tank's health, it is at least a sign of the tank's health. Corraline grows best with little/no phosphates and nitrates and under the same mg/pH/alk/ca conditions as stony corals. Thus if your corraline is thriving, you're probably maintaining good tank conditions.

 

[DrCooper]

gotcha! thanks

 

[Wes]

doesnt do anything good other than indicate good water quality.

 

[Keith P]

Does it not supply a source of food? I see my emerald crabs picking at it all the time.

I was once told that coraline growth would offset the growth of nuisance algae. I think they were confusing coraline w/ macro tho...

 

[Killerdrgn]

carraline is food for urchins, aond some fish, I forget which, but I don't think they're the kind of fish we keep in our tanks.

 

[qy7400]

Agree with Wes, signs of good water quality.

Keith it's still algae, a food source emeralds and urchins feed on so IMO it's a win win.

 

[Salty Dog]

carraline is food for urchins, aond some fish, I forget which, but I don't think they're the kind of fish we keep in our tanks.

I had one overflow completly covered in heavy growth and my purple urchin made short work of it. But I love the way it looks

 

[MatthewScars]

They other major point is it stops algea from growing on rocks. If you have a rock full of coraline, hair algae and other slime/turf algae wont grow on it.

The stuff I have, i can strape it off the glass with my fingernail. so it can be removed simply.

 

[aaron23]

doesnt do anything good other than indicate good water quality.

+1

 

[Keith P]

They other major point is it stops algea from growing on rocks. If you have a rock full of coraline, hair algae and other slime/turf algae wont grow on it.

The stuff I have, i can strape it off the glass with my fingernail. so it can be removed simply.

Doesn't slow down hydroids, bryopsis, or cyano one bit tho :irked:

 

[jejton]

What species of urchins eat coralline?

 

[MatthewScars]

What species of urchins eat coralline?

ive seen pencil and long spine.

Tux's might

 

[cybermeez]

What species of urchins eat coralline?

My Blue Tuxedo Urchin eats it.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

From observation, corals are more likely to colonize on coraline algae covered area than other macro algae, such as hair aglae, covered area or area area that are barren(hard to say for sure about this.) I feell that it's kind of preparing the surface with proper texture and mineral requirements for some coral to growth on.

 

[Beaun]

The main purpose of coraline algae, as far as I have heard and been told, in your reef tank is for biological filtration. You want coraline to grow to help filter your tank. The only places you may want to remove it would be on the side and front glass (obviously the front, maybe the sides). It promotes health in your tank.