Dissapearing Corraline Algae

JBOD77 · 02/28/2006, 05:23 PM

A friend of mine has a 55 gal tank with Current PC's. After more than one year of good growth, his corraline algae is turning white and dissapearing in some spots. Light cycle is 10 or 11 hours sim. dawn to dusk and all of his levels test normal with fresh test kits??????? any ideas??????

siding88 · 02/28/2006, 05:26 PM

could be crabs the little sucker was eating mine caught him red handed!!

Reef'in Colorado · 02/28/2006, 05:28 PM

It can turn white if left exposed to the air during a water change. I have had this happen after only about 10 minutes.

JBOD77 · 02/28/2006, 05:28 PM

hermit crabs?

JBOD77 · 02/28/2006, 05:29 PM

Reefin' I've seen that happen in my own tanks but his problem is down closer to the bottom and midsection of the tank.

steve the plumb · 02/28/2006, 05:36 PM

What is his calcium,magnesium,and alkalinity levels?How old are the bulbs?PC lights last about 6 months then they begin to lose par.

JBOD77 · 02/28/2006, 05:39 PM

steve the bulbs are new , w/in 2 months, and his levels are good. 450 cal. 11 dkh 8.2 ph never tested magnesium

steve the plumb · 02/28/2006, 05:44 PM

You should test magnesium.Calcium and mag coinside.If mag drops you require more calcium addition.You will end up having to use alot more calcium to maintain levels by having a lower mag level.Mag should be at 1350.I have mine at 1400.You are fine if levels is between 1350-1500.Are you using actinics?50/50?

JBOD77 · 02/28/2006, 05:47 PM

yes it's a 48" fixture with dual daylights and dual actinics will test mag. this weekend i'll lend him my test kit.

steve the plumb · 02/28/2006, 05:58 PM

He should be getting growth with the correct lighting.Seems his lights are good.I don't know what else it could be.If his calcium levels are fine he should get growth.Has he ever added magnesium before.Tell him to check levels and see what they are at.It might be a problem if levles are low.You can ask Randy on the ref chemistry forum.He is an expert.My friend has trouble growing coraline algea aswell .He has 3 x 250 mh bulbs and good water paramaters but it takes him long to grow coraline where as mine grows like crazy.

drunktank · 02/28/2006, 06:10 PM

does he have an urrchins? they eat it- could be destroying it- Has he changed salts?

Craig Lambert · 02/28/2006, 06:16 PM

I agree with Steve. Check the Magnesium level. If it's never been checked I'll bet its low. Boost it to 1300-1325. That will help alot. It will also make Alk and Calcium easier to maintain in a balanced ratio:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

JBOD77 · 02/28/2006, 09:11 PM

nope no urchins. we'll have to give the magnesium a try first a test and then an additive. thanks for the advice!

steve the plumb · 02/28/2006, 10:51 PM

If the mag is low don't freak out at how much you have to add.It will likely be alot.Use randys reef calculator to find out how much to add.Go to reef chemistry forum and find link.I don't know how to post it.More than likely your mag is to low and you are wasting calcium addition.Get it all in order.

BodiBuilt · 03/01/2006, 12:37 AM

Did they notice coraline dieoff after changing bulbs?Perhaps due to sudden increase in light quality(how long were old bulbs used?)Every time I bring home a new rock with nice,dark purple coraline growth,it seems to loose its depth of color(turns pinkish) over some time,but then comes back.

JBOD77 · 03/01/2006, 07:18 AM

i've heard that using tropic marin should alieviate the need for addition magnesium any truth in this statement

steve the plumb · 03/01/2006, 08:56 AM

depends on demands of the tank.If so people wouldn't need calcium reactors and trace element adding would not be required.

02/28/2006, 05:23 PM	#1
JBOD77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK, USA Posts: 176	Dissapearing Corraline Algae A friend of mine has a 55 gal tank with Current PC's. After more than one year of good growth, his corraline algae is turning white and dissapearing in some spots. Light cycle is 10 or 11 hours sim. dawn to dusk and all of his levels test normal with fresh test kits??????? any ideas??????

02/28/2006, 06:16 PM	#12
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	I agree with Steve. Check the Magnesium level. If it's never been checked I'll bet its low. Boost it to 1300-1325. That will help alot. It will also make Alk and Calcium easier to maintain in a balanced ratio: http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

03/01/2006, 12:37 AM	#15
BodiBuilt Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 1,326	Did they notice coraline dieoff after changing bulbs?Perhaps due to sudden increase in light quality(how long were old bulbs used?)Every time I bring home a new rock with nice,dark purple coraline growth,it seems to loose its depth of color(turns pinkish) over some time,but then comes back. __________________ Tell Them Dave Was Here Current Tank Info: 280g In Progress

02/28/2006, 05:26 PM	#2
siding88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: looking out my window at the river Posts: 194	could be crabs the little sucker was eating mine caught him red handed!!

02/28/2006, 05:28 PM	#3
Reef'in Colorado Reefer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Frederick, Co. Posts: 934	It can turn white if left exposed to the air during a water change. I have had this happen after only about 10 minutes.

02/28/2006, 05:29 PM	#5
JBOD77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK, USA Posts: 176	Reefin' I've seen that happen in my own tanks but his problem is down closer to the bottom and midsection of the tank.

02/28/2006, 05:36 PM	#6
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	What is his calcium,magnesium,and alkalinity levels?How old are the bulbs?PC lights last about 6 months then they begin to lose par.

02/28/2006, 05:39 PM	#7
JBOD77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK, USA Posts: 176	steve the bulbs are new , w/in 2 months, and his levels are good. 450 cal. 11 dkh 8.2 ph never tested magnesium

02/28/2006, 05:44 PM	#8
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	You should test magnesium.Calcium and mag coinside.If mag drops you require more calcium addition.You will end up having to use alot more calcium to maintain levels by having a lower mag level.Mag should be at 1350.I have mine at 1400.You are fine if levels is between 1350-1500.Are you using actinics?50/50?

02/28/2006, 05:47 PM	#9
JBOD77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK, USA Posts: 176	yes it's a 48" fixture with dual daylights and dual actinics will test mag. this weekend i'll lend him my test kit.

02/28/2006, 05:58 PM	#10
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	He should be getting growth with the correct lighting.Seems his lights are good.I don't know what else it could be.If his calcium levels are fine he should get growth.Has he ever added magnesium before.Tell him to check levels and see what they are at.It might be a problem if levles are low.You can ask Randy on the ref chemistry forum.He is an expert.My friend has trouble growing coraline algea aswell .He has 3 x 250 mh bulbs and good water paramaters but it takes him long to grow coraline where as mine grows like crazy.

02/28/2006, 06:10 PM	#11
drunktank Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 404	does he have an urrchins? they eat it- could be destroying it- Has he changed salts?

02/28/2006, 09:11 PM	#13
JBOD77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK, USA Posts: 176	nope no urchins. we'll have to give the magnesium a try first a test and then an additive. thanks for the advice!

02/28/2006, 10:51 PM	#14
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	If the mag is low don't freak out at how much you have to add.It will likely be alot.Use randys reef calculator to find out how much to add.Go to reef chemistry forum and find link.I don't know how to post it.More than likely your mag is to low and you are wasting calcium addition.Get it all in order.

03/01/2006, 07:18 AM	#16
JBOD77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK, USA Posts: 176	i've heard that using tropic marin should alieviate the need for addition magnesium any truth in this statement

03/01/2006, 08:56 AM	#17
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	depends on demands of the tank.If so people wouldn't need calcium reactors and trace element adding would not be required.