Little help....?

Riffe · 01/30/2010, 07:32 AM

My tank has been up for almost a year and a half. Well this past week on the back of the tank the coraline algae has been turning white instead of its normal coral purple. Anyone have any idea of what it is? Bleached? One of my favias is taking a hit to.. if anyone could help give any suggestions...
Tank is a 40 breeder with a 250 MH and a refugium... any help appreciated

stubby 58 · 01/30/2010, 08:15 AM

The coraline turning white is a sign that it is dieing and the fav not looking so good I would start by testing your water sounds like low calc , I am not sure . How often and how much of a WC do you do . Look at your water parameters . I am sure some one with more knowledge can help more than I .

stubby

sir_dudeguy · 01/30/2010, 08:18 AM

Agree with stubby. Sounds like calcium is low (coraline uses lots of calcium) but i would also check for alk as well.

Doing consistent water changes should help replenish that if you're not already doing so.

Riffe · 01/30/2010, 08:48 AM

Ph-7.8 just added buffer now
nitrate-0
nitrite-0
cal-400
alk-11-12

stubby 58 · 01/30/2010, 09:49 AM

Cal is little low should be in 500 range .

stubby

Playa-1 · 01/30/2010, 09:55 AM

Why are you using buffer?

DThompson · 01/30/2010, 10:09 AM

Why are you adding buffer? Calcium is NOT low. You could raise it a little but 500 is not a normal level in sea water.

How often do you do a water change? I would look at water flow, Temp, and bulb age. You should also take a sample to your LFS and have them test the water as well for a second opinion.

Are you feeding your corals?

stubby 58 · 01/30/2010, 10:21 AM

I stand corrected then sorry . That is what makes this such a great place .

stubby

reefD · 01/30/2010, 10:34 AM

Coraline algae does need calcium in order to grow and keep its color. but many other factors are at play. did you know that if your calcium level is high but pH or hardness not at its right parameters the calcium cant be absorbed by the animals in our tank?
Ur dilemma is simple. first test your nitrates. any levels need to be remedied before you move on to next step. next if you have been slacking on the h20 changes start doing them every 4 weeks for now. next i would start using buffer on a regular maintenance schedule to maintain your pH. usually the above will correct the situation. normally our salt mix has plenty of the trace elements to grow Coraline so i leave dosing more calcium as a last resort. any questions?

reefD · 01/30/2010, 10:39 AM

bulb should be replaced every year but if its your bulbs you would be seeing more nuisance algae also. if you are change your bulbs.

i think buffer will help you. i use super buffer dkh as instructed on the bottle and i never have die off of Coraline. i did 8 years ago and i got the super buffer and i have never seen it bleach unless some other issue is happening

Playa-1 · 01/30/2010, 03:41 PM

I think the buffer is part of the problem in this situation. I would be curious as to why the buffer is being added in the first place. It appears as though the buffer is being used as a bandaid to control a pH problem and the water parameters are likely out of whack. If that is the case then a couple of large water changes and addressing the pH issue will likely put you back on the correct path. Currently the ALk and Calcium are out of balance. You should also get a Mg reading before you make any more changes. The pH should not be controlled with a buffer. If it's falling outside of it normal range then you have other issues that need to be addressed.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...e2002/chem.htm

01/30/2010, 07:32 AM	#1
Riffe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 216	Little help....? My tank has been up for almost a year and a half. Well this past week on the back of the tank the coraline algae has been turning white instead of its normal coral purple. Anyone have any idea of what it is? Bleached? One of my favias is taking a hit to.. if anyone could help give any suggestions... Tank is a 40 breeder with a 250 MH and a refugium... any help appreciated __________________ - AJ Gonzalez Current Tank Info: 5 gallon Nano

01/30/2010, 08:18 AM	#3
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Agree with stubby. Sounds like calcium is low (coraline uses lots of calcium) but i would also check for alk as well. Doing consistent water changes should help replenish that if you're not already doing so. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/30/2010, 08:48 AM	#4
Riffe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 216	Ph-7.8 just added buffer now nitrate-0 nitrite-0 cal-400 alk-11-12 __________________ - AJ Gonzalez Current Tank Info: 5 gallon Nano

01/30/2010, 10:34 AM	#9
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	Coraline algae does need calcium in order to grow and keep its color. but many other factors are at play. did you know that if your calcium level is high but pH or hardness not at its right parameters the calcium cant be absorbed by the animals in our tank? Ur dilemma is simple. first test your nitrates. any levels need to be remedied before you move on to next step. next if you have been slacking on the h20 changes start doing them every 4 weeks for now. next i would start using buffer on a regular maintenance schedule to maintain your pH. usually the above will correct the situation. normally our salt mix has plenty of the trace elements to grow Coraline so i leave dosing more calcium as a last resort. any questions? __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

01/30/2010, 10:39 AM	#10
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	bulb should be replaced every year but if its your bulbs you would be seeing more nuisance algae also. if you are change your bulbs. i think buffer will help you. i use super buffer dkh as instructed on the bottle and i never have die off of Coraline. i did 8 years ago and i got the super buffer and i have never seen it bleach unless some other issue is happening __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

01/30/2010, 08:15 AM	#2
stubby 58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ama TX Posts: 217	The coraline turning white is a sign that it is dieing and the fav not looking so good I would start by testing your water sounds like low calc , I am not sure . How often and how much of a WC do you do . Look at your water parameters . I am sure some one with more knowledge can help more than I . stubby

01/30/2010, 09:49 AM	#5
stubby 58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ama TX Posts: 217	Cal is little low should be in 500 range . stubby

01/30/2010, 09:55 AM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Why are you using buffer?

01/30/2010, 10:09 AM	#7
DThompson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scottsadale, AZ Posts: 374	Why are you adding buffer? Calcium is NOT low. You could raise it a little but 500 is not a normal level in sea water. How often do you do a water change? I would look at water flow, Temp, and bulb age. You should also take a sample to your LFS and have them test the water as well for a second opinion. Are you feeding your corals?

01/30/2010, 10:21 AM	#8
stubby 58 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ama TX Posts: 217	I stand corrected then sorry . That is what makes this such a great place . stubby

01/30/2010, 03:41 PM	#11
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I think the buffer is part of the problem in this situation. I would be curious as to why the buffer is being added in the first place. It appears as though the buffer is being used as a bandaid to control a pH problem and the water parameters are likely out of whack. If that is the case then a couple of large water changes and addressing the pH issue will likely put you back on the correct path. Currently the ALk and Calcium are out of balance. You should also get a Mg reading before you make any more changes. The pH should not be controlled with a buffer. If it's falling outside of it normal range then you have other issues that need to be addressed. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...e2002/chem.htm