Live Rock ARC Reef Logo Live Rock Dry Rock and Live Sand for Aquariums and Fish Tanks

ARC Reef Coralline Algae Growth Instructions

Purple Helix & Pink Fusion Coralline Algae in a bottle are LIVE products that are bottled on the same day they are shipped. Please make sure to use entire contents on the day you receive it or before the expiration date stamped on the bottle.

Directions:

Step 1:     Turn off filter, sump pump, protein skimmer, and UV sterilizer if equipped. Leave powerheads on.

Step 2:     Shake bottle vigorously, as algae spores will start to adhere to the inner walls of the bottle during shipping.

Step 3:     Pour entire contents of bottle into marine aquarium. (If bottle is cold, bring to at least room temperature).

Step 4:     Refill ½ to ¾ of the bottle with aquarium water then repeat steps 2 & 3, (we recommend doing this 3x’s).

Step 5:     Wait a minimum of 2 hours before turning all equipment back on.

Tank Requirements for Optimal Growth

Temperature:

Salinity:

PH:

Calcium:

Ammonia:

Phosphates:

Nitrate:

Alkalinity:

 

Lighting:

Between 78-82 degrees  It is Important that temperature remains as stable as possible.

1.026  (Must remain stable, cannot fluctuate more than 0.001 in 24 hours)

Keep a stable pH level between 8.1-8.3  (always test at the same time of day)

>440mg/L

As close to 0 ppm as possible

< 0.25 ppm

< 5 ppm

Keep a stable KA level of 2.8 meq/L for alkalinity or carbonate hardness (the concentration of carbonate and bicarbonate). Your level can be +/- up to 0.14 meq/L. Having a correct KA level in your tank has a stabilizing effect on your pH.

Lighting is key. The intensity, or “PAR” level, of your lighting shouldn’t be too high and the duration of your photo period should be somewhat close to the natural duration of the sun. Your aquarium shouldn’t receive full intensity or “noon” lighting for 10 hours because that is not natural and it will bleach out corals and the coralline will not grow. Coralline Algae LOVES Actinic and blue spectrum lighting. In the beginning we advise to lengthen the time that your actinic only lighting stays on by an additional 1-3 hours daily.

How Long Does it Take to See Results?

ARC Reef’s Coralline Algae is a very slow but steady grower.  You will not see growth overnight. If all your tank parameters are in check then you will see what looks like small chickenpox on your rocks and on plastics like powerheads within 8 weeks and on glass it can take longer. Coralline spores will not grow in poor water quality. If you have high ammonia, nitrites or phosphates, then the algae spores will remain in a dormant state until these levels are corrected and then it will be 4-8 weeks after that when you will first see your chickenpox.  After this stage you will notice these small spots double in size every 14 days until they cover much of your rocks. Green hard algae is also a good sign that you will very shortly start to see purple coralline growing. We only grow hardy stains with vibrant colors and we continually strive to culture more color variations and more complex strains with accelerated growth rates.  Every bottle contains a minimum of 6 separate species of coralline.  Each species has a different affinity to lighting conditions and that is how we can insure that no matter what intensity lighting your tank has, there will be a species included that is well suited for your tank.

Precautions

Make sure to use entire contents of bottle before the expiration date stamped on the bottle .

Freezing point of liquid is 28.4 degrees. Bottle should not be subjected to temperatures below that.

It is not recommended to have an urchin, limpet, or chiton in the same tank as their primary diet consists of coralline algae.

PRO TIPS FOR FAST GROWTH!

Raise your Temperature.  Coralline algae grows very slowly, its growth rate is approximately 10x’s more rapid in tropical waters than in the Arctic. If your tanks temperature is below 78 °F. then increase the temperature to 78-82 °F. this will increase the reproductive growth rate by nearly 15% Make sure to keep the temperature stable with a heater controller.

Aquatic Life Loves Stability and so Does Coralline Algae. You must keep your water parameters stable through regular monitoring and water testing. Smaller more frequent water changes are preferred over larger less often water changes, this helps eliminate any shock to the spores. Salinity and PH are the 2 most important parameters to keep stable.

More Frequent Water Changes.  You should be doing regular water changes at least twice monthly. Nearly every problem can be fixed with a water change.  High nitrates? Water change!  Cloudy water? Water change!  Nuisance algae? Water change!  Got ick? Water Change!  Corals shriveling up? Water change! Spending all your money on corals?  Ok, well that’s one that a water change can’t fix but for nearly everything else, a partial water change will fix, or at least give you more time to find the problem.  Your aquarium is a closed system and can easily be put off balance.

Have Patience.  If you’re new to the hobby this tip will save your hard earned cash from being flushed down the drain. Only bad things happen overnight in this hobby.  Add livestock slowly and never change anything quickly. It’s best to think of your aquarium like a very old man, it doesn’t adapt well to change (and at times can smell like an old sock!).

ARC REEF CORALLINE ALGAE IN A BOTTLE VS. OTHER “PURPLE ALGAE ACCELERATORS”

Purple Helix, Coralline Algae in a bottle is the ONLY product developed in a laboratory that contains actual live algae spores. Other similar products are simply a mixture of calcium and magnesium, both of which are already contained in all modern salt mixes and are rarely ever lacking in a newly setup aquarium. If your aquarium isn’t stocked yet with corals and coralline algae then there is nothing drawing calcium and magnesium from the water yet. If your levels are not low then using these “purple algae accelerators” provide absolutely nothing and you shouldn’t fall for the marketing hype. Coralline Algae is a calcareous algae so it does utilize both magnesium and calcium in its structure and would not be able to reproduce without them. Once your aquarium is stocked with corals then you should start dosing with 2 part or kalkwasser. We recommend the 2 part calcium and alkalinity kit from Bulk Reef Supply.  It provides a more complete and controllable system than using “purple algae accelerators”, and is also far less expensive in the long run.

20% OF EVERY PURCHASE GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS REBUILDING OUR REEFS!

Heart Reef Miami by ARC Reef Atlantic Reef Conservation Live Rock

This is where your algae once lived, we now culture these strains in our lab and then ship them directly to you. “Heart Reef, Miami” is a 43,500 sq. ft. man-made heart shaped reef off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.  Heart Reef is a symbol and daily reminder to all, that we must take care of our natural reefs and give some love back to our oceans.  It is visible from the air on certain flight paths in and out of Miami International Airport and it’s getting bigger every year.  Thank you for directly being a part of this project.

If you are a licensed research laboratory or university biology department, we offer individual species of coralline algae for study.  Each specimen comes hermetically sealed in your choice of either 15mL or 30mL conical centrifuge test-tubes and ready for separation. For research inquires and current list of available species, please use our wholesale contact form.