Coralline algae?

RTKBA308 · 02/25/2007, 12:26 PM

I purchased my Fiji rock, it was cured in four weeks with green coralline algae covering about seventy percent of the rock. I now have it in my tank now for three weeks with sand, no live stock. I've had my T5 going about eight hours a day, along with powerheads and skimmer.

To the question, my once green coralline algae has turned snow white. Is this a normal process? I keep temp at 79 degrees, salinity at 1.026.

fish 511 · 02/25/2007, 12:33 PM

I think its normal. I had some bright green algae at first. Then I had a diatom outbreak and got some good cleaning snails. When they cleaned the rock, it appeared to be bright white. Now most of the white has trned into corraline thats purple... HTH

SubRosa · 02/25/2007, 12:39 PM

Green coralline flourishes in low light conditions.In a normal reef tank it will only survive in shaded spots and on the underside of your rock.

RTKBA308 · 02/25/2007, 12:45 PM

Well, while I was curing it, it was in darkness. Now that it's under light, the green is gone. Just looks very odd.

RTKBA308 · 02/25/2007, 06:40 PM

Any other thoughts about this

llama72 · 02/25/2007, 07:12 PM

does anyone have a photo of a diatom?

sam75 · 02/26/2007, 01:09 PM

Changes in lighting can cause coralline to bleach out or die off (turning white). After several weeks/months it should start coming back (provided Ca/Alk are good).

Also I recently read that coralline algae does not do well under T-5 lighting (I'm not sure if this is true, but i've never had much luck with it after installing my T-5's (over a year ago). With "NO" lighting I had lots of dark purple. After installing my T-5's most of it bleached out. Now all I've I've got is some light green and faded purple...

[This is just my experience, I'm sure many other factors contribute such a bulb temperature, additives, phosphate levels etc...]

Spleef · 02/26/2007, 03:13 PM

I am usning T-5 lighting 2 x150 and VHO and having great purple coloring after 1 year.

02/25/2007, 12:26 PM	#1
RTKBA308 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NY Posts: 521	Coralline algae? I purchased my Fiji rock, it was cured in four weeks with green coralline algae covering about seventy percent of the rock. I now have it in my tank now for three weeks with sand, no live stock. I've had my T5 going about eight hours a day, along with powerheads and skimmer. To the question, my once green coralline algae has turned snow white. Is this a normal process? I keep temp at 79 degrees, salinity at 1.026.

02/25/2007, 12:33 PM	#2
fish 511 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, California Posts: 679	I think its normal. I had some bright green algae at first. Then I had a diatom outbreak and got some good cleaning snails. When they cleaned the rock, it appeared to be bright white. Now most of the white has trned into corraline thats purple... HTH

02/25/2007, 12:39 PM	#3
SubRosa Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 23	Green coralline flourishes in low light conditions.In a normal reef tank it will only survive in shaded spots and on the underside of your rock.

02/25/2007, 12:45 PM	#4
RTKBA308 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NY Posts: 521	Well, while I was curing it, it was in darkness. Now that it's under light, the green is gone. Just looks very odd.

02/25/2007, 06:40 PM	#5
RTKBA308 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NY Posts: 521	Any other thoughts about this

02/25/2007, 07:12 PM	#6
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	does anyone have a photo of a diatom?

02/26/2007, 01:09 PM	#7
sam75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: VA Posts: 110	Changes in lighting can cause coralline to bleach out or die off (turning white). After several weeks/months it should start coming back (provided Ca/Alk are good). Also I recently read that coralline algae does not do well under T-5 lighting (I'm not sure if this is true, but i've never had much luck with it after installing my T-5's (over a year ago). With "NO" lighting I had lots of dark purple. After installing my T-5's most of it bleached out. Now all I've I've got is some light green and faded purple... [This is just my experience, I'm sure many other factors contribute such a bulb temperature, additives, phosphate levels etc...]

02/26/2007, 03:13 PM	#8
Spleef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 50	I am usning T-5 lighting 2 x150 and VHO and having great purple coloring after 1 year.