Corraline fading

EDJFA · 09/30/2011, 10:54 AM

What would be causing my corraline to look like it's fading? My parameters are perfect, with a little buffer added to boost the PH.

When I got the rock from the LFS it had a lot of nice dark purple corraline on it. Today, some of it seems to be retracting, fading, and generally not looking healthy.

I'm hesitant to start dosing anything because I don't want to mess up my water quality, but I also don't want to lose my nice algae.

Thoughts, suggestions, questions?

L_Spec · 09/30/2011, 11:09 AM

Don't dose it with anything. I'm assuming this is a new(er) tank? It'll fade and then come back. When I first got my LR, the purple was a deep color, and now it's faded a bit, but rebounding. Even my base rock is starting to have light patches of purple now..

Just keep your parameters in check and it'll come back. Probably stronger than ever lol.

Toddrtrex · 09/30/2011, 11:14 AM

What are the numbers behind "perfect"?
Include,
Cal,
Alk,
Mag and SG/Salinity.

ZR1001 · 09/30/2011, 11:28 AM

did you change your lights recently?

EDJFA · 09/30/2011, 12:19 PM

I did change the lights. Went from a PCs to T5s.

My perfect numbers:

PH 8.2
SG 1.025
Alk 7
Cal 440
Not sure on the mag since I don't have anything to test that.
Ammonia, NO2, NO3, and PO4 are all zero.

I have my LFS test the water once a week when I go get new top off water. The same guy tests it everytime so at least there's some consistency to the way the tests are run. And he's the guy who maintains the tanks there at the store, so I figure he must know how to do it right.

Toddrtrex · 09/30/2011, 12:22 PM

Need to know the Mag levels, since that will play a role too.

However, I would say that the increase in light -- assuming that you didn't acclimate to the new lights -- is a very big factor.

Cantgrowdidly · 09/30/2011, 12:22 PM

Light change likely the culprit. It should adjust and come back.

ZR1001 · 09/30/2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDJFA

I did change the lights. Went from a PCs to T5s.

My perfect numbers:

PH 8.2
SG 1.025
Alk 7
Cal 440
Not sure on the mag since I don't have anything to test that.
Ammonia, NO2, NO3, and PO4 are all zero.

I have my LFS test the water once a week when I go get new top off water. The same guy tests it everytime so at least there's some consistency to the way the tests are run. And he's the guy who maintains the tanks there at the store, so I figure he must know how to do it right.

Light is your answer

EDJFA · 10/04/2011, 09:47 AM

I wondered if it would be. I didn't do any acclimating, just picked up the old lights and replaced with the new. I guess I'm learning a small lesson.

I've not asked the LFS where I get my water what kind of salt mix they use. But would there be any benefit to the algae if I started mixing my own with Reef Crystals or something similar that is designed for reefs?

cloak · 10/04/2011, 11:16 AM

Maybe the new lighting is changing the color of the coralline. Instead of a dark purple it's going to change to pink. Fading would just be part of the process IMO. I used to get purple coralline with my VHO's. I get pink under my halide.

disc1 · 10/04/2011, 12:58 PM

Just a side note for you. Don't use buffer to mess with pH. Buffer is for raising alkalinity. If you fool around too much trying to get pH perfect you can throw everything else out of whack. The pH isn't really that important to you. Alkalinity is much more important.

EDJFA · 10/04/2011, 02:54 PM

The explanation I get from my water quality control specialist (Steve at the LFS who runs my tests for me weekly) on the buffer is that if I raise the PH, it will also raise the Alk. It's never been below 8.0 on any of the tests, and he's not really all that concerned about it, just something he suggests.

So, do I need to raise my Alk to the 8-9 range? If so, what would I use to do that?

09/30/2011, 10:54 AM	#1
EDJFA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 1,025	Corraline fading What would be causing my corraline to look like it's fading? My parameters are perfect, with a little buffer added to boost the PH. When I got the rock from the LFS it had a lot of nice dark purple corraline on it. Today, some of it seems to be retracting, fading, and generally not looking healthy. I'm hesitant to start dosing anything because I don't want to mess up my water quality, but I also don't want to lose my nice algae. Thoughts, suggestions, questions?

09/30/2011, 11:14 AM	#3
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	What are the numbers behind "perfect"? Include, Cal, Alk, Mag and SG/Salinity. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

09/30/2011, 12:22 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Need to know the Mag levels, since that will play a role too. However, I would say that the increase in light -- assuming that you didn't acclimate to the new lights -- is a very big factor. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/04/2011, 11:16 AM	#10
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Maybe the new lighting is changing the color of the coralline. Instead of a dark purple it's going to change to pink. Fading would just be part of the process IMO. I used to get purple coralline with my VHO's. I get pink under my halide. Last edited by cloak; 10/04/2011 at 11:21 AM.

10/04/2011, 12:58 PM	#11
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Just a side note for you. Don't use buffer to mess with pH. Buffer is for raising alkalinity. If you fool around too much trying to get pH perfect you can throw everything else out of whack. The pH isn't really that important to you. Alkalinity is much more important. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

09/30/2011, 11:09 AM	#2
L_Spec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Regina Posts: 133	Don't dose it with anything. I'm assuming this is a new(er) tank? It'll fade and then come back. When I first got my LR, the purple was a deep color, and now it's faded a bit, but rebounding. Even my base rock is starting to have light patches of purple now.. Just keep your parameters in check and it'll come back. Probably stronger than ever lol.

09/30/2011, 11:28 AM	#4
ZR1001 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 359	did you change your lights recently?

09/30/2011, 12:19 PM	#5
EDJFA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 1,025	I did change the lights. Went from a PCs to T5s. My perfect numbers: PH 8.2 SG 1.025 Alk 7 Cal 440 Not sure on the mag since I don't have anything to test that. Ammonia, NO2, NO3, and PO4 are all zero. I have my LFS test the water once a week when I go get new top off water. The same guy tests it everytime so at least there's some consistency to the way the tests are run. And he's the guy who maintains the tanks there at the store, so I figure he must know how to do it right.

09/30/2011, 12:22 PM	#7
Cantgrowdidly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Milton FL Posts: 94	Light change likely the culprit. It should adjust and come back.

10/04/2011, 09:47 AM	#9
EDJFA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 1,025	I wondered if it would be. I didn't do any acclimating, just picked up the old lights and replaced with the new. I guess I'm learning a small lesson. I've not asked the LFS where I get my water what kind of salt mix they use. But would there be any benefit to the algae if I started mixing my own with Reef Crystals or something similar that is designed for reefs?

10/04/2011, 02:54 PM	#12
EDJFA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 1,025	The explanation I get from my water quality control specialist (Steve at the LFS who runs my tests for me weekly) on the buffer is that if I raise the PH, it will also raise the Alk. It's never been below 8.0 on any of the tests, and he's not really all that concerned about it, just something he suggests. So, do I need to raise my Alk to the 8-9 range? If so, what would I use to do that?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
monti cap fading - too much light?	gte539f	SPS Keepers	3	04/16/2011 07:41 PM
Help Pastel/faded colors in sps, Bleach/faded colors in zoas	mike810	SPS Keepers	28	09/26/2010 04:17 PM