Live cultured coralline algae seeds a reef aquarium with the pink, purple, red, and occasional green crusts associated with mature rock. Coralline is not a soft refugium plant. It builds a hard calcium-based skeleton and slowly spreads across illuminated surfaces. A healthy culture can introduce multiple strains and accelerate natural coverage in a stable aquarium. coralline algae quick care facts Scientific name Multiple calcifying red-algae strains Algae group Encrusting calcified red algae Care level Moderate Light Low to moderate Water flow Moderate Growth rate Slow Best placement Rockwork, glass, overflows, and equipment Nutrient export Low; grown for seeding and encrusting cover Food value Not a fish food; some grazers scrape the surface Portion One cultured seeding portion Why keep coralline algae? Seeds bare rock and equipment with desirable encrusting red algae. Occupies open surfaces that nuisance algae might otherwise claim. Adds the natural pink and purple appearance of mature reef rock. Provides another visual indicator of stable calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. Lighting, flow, and nutrients Maintain calcium at 400–450 ppm, alkalinity at 8–9 dKH, and magnesium at 1300–1450 ppm, matching the established care guidance for this culture. Coralline usually prefers low-to-moderate light and broad flow. Use the Hanna Calcium Checker, Hanna Alkalinity Checker, and Hanna Marine Magnesium Checker to track stability rather than dosing by guesswork. Refugium or display tank? Introduce the culture where water movement can distribute material throughout the system. Coralline eventually appears on rock, overflows, pump housings, and glass. It is reef safe, but expect to scrape viewing panes and service equipment as coverage increases. Avoid placing the initial culture where sediment can bury it. Harvesting and pruning Coralline is not harvested like Chaeto. Let it establish, then clean it only from surfaces that must remain clear. Use a scraper on glass and inspect pumps periodically because calcified growth can reduce clearances. Leaving healthy patches on rock and nonmoving surfaces helps the culture continue spreading. Troubleshooting coralline algae New coralline growth is slow and may take weeks or months to become obvious. White patches can indicate grazing, rapid chemistry change, air exposure, or a drop in calcium or alkalinity. Nuisance algae can smother new crusts. Keep parameters stable, remove competing film gently, and avoid treating the aquarium with indiscriminate algaecides. How coralline algae compares Coralline is a calcifying encrusting alga, not a nutrient-export ball. Use Chaeto or Pom Pom Gracilaria when nitrate and phosphate removal is the main goal. Choose coralline when the goal is natural purple and pink rock coverage and a more mature reef appearance. Portion sizes, shipping, and acclimation Each order contains one cultured seeding portion. Temperature-acclimate the sealed package, follow the included application method, and avoid adding shipping water. Keep calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium stable after introduction. Color and strain mix vary naturally, and visible coverage develops gradually rather than overnight. Pairs well with Hanna Calcium Checker, Hanna Alkalinity Checker, and Hanna Marine Magnesium Checker for the three core parameters that support calcifying growth.
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