Coralline algee dying off

9501gle · 06/27/2008, 08:51 PM

About 2 months ago I noticed a decline in my coralline algee, now there is none on my back glass and most of my rocks have lost theirs as well. I wasn't to worried at first but it still isn't coming back. There have been no big changes in any water parameters. I watch my water quality very closely and do 20% changes every 2 weeks. Here are my latest test results.

Cal. 420
Alk. 12 dkh
Sal. 1.024
Phos. undetectable
Ph. 8.12 morning 8.28 lights off
Nitrate undetectable
Nitrite undetectable
Ammonia undetectable

Been adding purple up last 3 weeks. Anyone have any Ideas?

9501gle · 06/27/2008, 08:56 PM

Sorry I forgot to mention when this started I had a gold colored algee with bubbles in it start up. I think this might have been what started the decline in coralline. Most of it is gone now but I'm still battling it some.

xJake · 06/27/2008, 09:02 PM

What kind of lighting are you running and for how long? There may have been a slight shift in the spectrum of the bulbs that caused a decline in coralline algae. It's really not a big deal if your coralline isn't growing as well anymore especially with your ideal parameters, and believe me when I say if you try too hard to grow it that it can eventually reach plague proportions. The 75g tank I care for has it covering everything and it's even starting to grow in that sort of lettuce head formation where it actually forms protruding plates of coralline.

9501gle · 06/27/2008, 09:23 PM

I run 2 1000w 20K MH lights for 9 hrs per day. Bulbs are 6 months old.

xJake · 06/27/2008, 09:29 PM

20k MH bulbs tend to shift in spectrum a lot more easily than other bulbs. This is probably what occurred as your bulbs are getting pretty old. I wouldn't worry about it for now. If your animals aren't showing any ill effects from the shift then I would just keep doing what you're doing.

9501gle · 06/27/2008, 09:38 PM

Thanks Jake

fyrefysh · 06/27/2008, 09:47 PM

It sounds to me like you may have too much light. Wow, 2 1000W Halides? I know that my coralline grows much better with just my PC compacts running. You also may want to try and bring your pH up to 8.3 or a little higher if possible.

xJake · 06/27/2008, 09:56 PM

Well, if his coralline grew just fine before then what makes you think too much light is the problem? Also, his pH is just fine. If the tank's pH stays within the bounds of 7.9 to 8.5 there is nothing wrong.

Whaledriver · 06/27/2008, 10:05 PM

Test your magnesium levels! The lower levels of magnesium interfere with the calcium somehow. Check it an raise it to normal and things should come back. Read about magnesium in the chemisty forum. Nothing bad will happen if you get it back to normal and I think it will help.

xJake · 06/27/2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whaledriver
Test your magnesium levels! The lower levels of magnesium interfere with the calcium somehow. Check it an raise it to normal and things should come back. Read about magnesium in the chemisty forum. Nothing bad will happen if you get it back to normal and I think it will help.

Hmm... I didn't even notice he didn't post Mg. This may be the problem, however, most hobbyist test kits for Mg are unreliable. I believe there is a way to find out Mg levels from your total hardness and calcium levels, but I'm not sure what exactly you do get the number.

9501gle · 06/28/2008, 10:38 AM

Mg. is 1150. Started adding a mg supplement yesterday as this is a little low but my calcium is 420 which should be fine.

xJake · 06/28/2008, 05:38 PM

Ok, so Mg is definitely not the problem, but are you seeing any other issues other than coralline die off? If not you don't really need to worry.

bmwaaron · 06/28/2008, 06:23 PM

I disagree.. I think 1150 is low for Mg especially if you are trying to get coraline algae.
Try raising Mg to 1350-1400 and I bet your Coralline will come back.
With a 1150 Mg level your usable Calcium is about 380
FWIW I can keep track of low Mg levels in my tank by the way the Corallne is acting, If it starts disapearing I know its below 1200

Whaledriver · 06/28/2008, 10:41 PM

I dont think mg that is a little high is a problem so I would go for the 1400 mark.

Now that you mention it I can also see coraline growth chang with mg. So lets see pulsing zenia for alk, coraline for magnesium and I cn also watch my clam lay down calcium to monitor that.

06/27/2008, 08:51 PM	#1
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	Coralline algee dying off About 2 months ago I noticed a decline in my coralline algee, now there is none on my back glass and most of my rocks have lost theirs as well. I wasn't to worried at first but it still isn't coming back. There have been no big changes in any water parameters. I watch my water quality very closely and do 20% changes every 2 weeks. Here are my latest test results. Cal. 420 Alk. 12 dkh Sal. 1.024 Phos. undetectable Ph. 8.12 morning 8.28 lights off Nitrate undetectable Nitrite undetectable Ammonia undetectable Been adding purple up last 3 weeks. Anyone have any Ideas? __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

06/27/2008, 08:56 PM	#2
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	Sorry I forgot to mention when this started I had a gold colored algee with bubbles in it start up. I think this might have been what started the decline in coralline. Most of it is gone now but I'm still battling it some. __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

06/27/2008, 09:23 PM	#4
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	I run 2 1000w 20K MH lights for 9 hrs per day. Bulbs are 6 months old. __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

06/27/2008, 09:38 PM	#6
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	Thanks Jake __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

06/28/2008, 10:38 AM	#11
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	Mg. is 1150. Started adding a mg supplement yesterday as this is a little low but my calcium is 420 which should be fine. __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

06/27/2008, 09:02 PM	#3
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	What kind of lighting are you running and for how long? There may have been a slight shift in the spectrum of the bulbs that caused a decline in coralline algae. It's really not a big deal if your coralline isn't growing as well anymore especially with your ideal parameters, and believe me when I say if you try too hard to grow it that it can eventually reach plague proportions. The 75g tank I care for has it covering everything and it's even starting to grow in that sort of lettuce head formation where it actually forms protruding plates of coralline.

06/27/2008, 09:29 PM	#5
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	20k MH bulbs tend to shift in spectrum a lot more easily than other bulbs. This is probably what occurred as your bulbs are getting pretty old. I wouldn't worry about it for now. If your animals aren't showing any ill effects from the shift then I would just keep doing what you're doing.

06/27/2008, 09:47 PM	#7
fyrefysh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 137	It sounds to me like you may have too much light. Wow, 2 1000W Halides? I know that my coralline grows much better with just my PC compacts running. You also may want to try and bring your pH up to 8.3 or a little higher if possible.

06/27/2008, 09:56 PM	#8
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	Well, if his coralline grew just fine before then what makes you think too much light is the problem? Also, his pH is just fine. If the tank's pH stays within the bounds of 7.9 to 8.5 there is nothing wrong.

06/27/2008, 10:05 PM	#9
Whaledriver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,811	Test your magnesium levels! The lower levels of magnesium interfere with the calcium somehow. Check it an raise it to normal and things should come back. Read about magnesium in the chemisty forum. Nothing bad will happen if you get it back to normal and I think it will help.

06/28/2008, 05:38 PM	#12
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	Ok, so Mg is definitely not the problem, but are you seeing any other issues other than coralline die off? If not you don't really need to worry.

06/28/2008, 06:23 PM	#13
bmwaaron Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 999	I disagree.. I think 1150 is low for Mg especially if you are trying to get coraline algae. Try raising Mg to 1350-1400 and I bet your Coralline will come back. With a 1150 Mg level your usable Calcium is about 380 FWIW I can keep track of low Mg levels in my tank by the way the Corallne is acting, If it starts disapearing I know its below 1200 __________________ Aaron Current Tank Info: Reefer 350 (73 gallon)

06/28/2008, 10:41 PM	#14
Whaledriver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,811	I dont think mg that is a little high is a problem so I would go for the 1400 mark. Now that you mention it I can also see coraline growth chang with mg. So lets see pulsing zenia for alk, coraline for magnesium and I cn also watch my clam lay down calcium to monitor that.