coraline algae not looking good

sstarr1114 · 10/05/2011, 07:13 PM

I was using Brightwell Aquatics Calcion additive and seemed to be ok. I switched to liquid reef to try it out. I just got home after a week vacation and my coraline algae is turning white fast. Ammonia, nitrates and PH are all good. What should I do? Any help would be appreciated.

MyOwnGrowOp · 10/05/2011, 08:20 PM

What is your calcium level at? Sounds like it's low. Same thing happened to me a few years back and my calcium was 260

imolaragazzo · 10/05/2011, 11:18 PM

Do you have a lot of corals (sps) in your tank? Really you shouldn't have to be dosing a lot, if at all, to get the coralline algae, weekly or even biweekly changes should be enough to keep calcium levels there.

sstarr1114 · 10/08/2011, 05:27 PM

checked calcium, it's around 460. My phosphates were .5 ppm. I need to do a water change. I have a phophate reactor but I may need new media. I've had it for a few months now. Waiting for new reverse osmosis filters to come in to do a water change. I think my filters starting getting really dirty before the last water change, that may not have helped.

Palting · 10/08/2011, 07:06 PM

Check alk, too. I lost a significant amount of coraline when my alk dropped to 6.7dKH, and a tenui developed STN, with all other parameters excellent. You'll need baking soda to get it quickly above 7 dkh before you start losing corals to RTN or STN.

sstarr1114 · 10/09/2011, 05:47 PM

Checked alk too. It was 8. I'm going to make a few changes to my setup and see what happens. 1, I'm going to change the light over my refugium. My chaeto does not grow very good at all. I've read a light that is 6500K is perfect.
2, going to change my phosban media
3, I will change my reverse osmosis filters and do another water change. I really should put a TDS meter on my outlet.
We'll see what happens. Thanks for the suggestions.

fshaqrmman · 10/09/2011, 05:49 PM

Do you add magnesium too?

willybub · 10/09/2011, 05:54 PM

did you change your lights somehow?

10/05/2011, 07:13 PM	#1
sstarr1114 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Utica, ny Posts: 54	coraline algae not looking good I was using Brightwell Aquatics Calcion additive and seemed to be ok. I switched to liquid reef to try it out. I just got home after a week vacation and my coraline algae is turning white fast. Ammonia, nitrates and PH are all good. What should I do? Any help would be appreciated.

10/05/2011, 08:20 PM	#2
MyOwnGrowOp Zoa Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calgary Alberta, Canada Posts: 274	What is your calcium level at? Sounds like it's low. Same thing happened to me a few years back and my calcium was 260 __________________ 120 Gallon Reef With Starfire Front, 45 Gallon Sump, Lit by Aqua Light Pro Deluxe, Super Reef Octopus 2000 Skimmer. 25 Gallon Top Down Shallow Cube lit by a Radion Pro with a TIR lens kit Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Reef. 45 Gallon Sump. 25 Gallon Top Down Reef

10/08/2011, 07:06 PM	#5
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Check alk, too. I lost a significant amount of coraline when my alk dropped to 6.7dKH, and a tenui developed STN, with all other parameters excellent. You'll need baking soda to get it quickly above 7 dkh before you start losing corals to RTN or STN. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/09/2011, 05:49 PM	#7
fshaqrmman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Mount Pleasant, SC Posts: 133	Do you add magnesium too? __________________ 90 Gallon Reef-Ready AGA, 20L Sump, (2) 250W Aqua Medic hqi pendants, Aqua Euro Chiller, (2) Vortech mp10w es, JBJ ATO

10/09/2011, 05:54 PM	#8
willybub Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stratford Ontario Canada Posts: 210	did you change your lights somehow? __________________ Eric Current Tank Info: 90G starfire (48lx18dx24h) , 35G sump, bubble king mini 200, deltec pf501 calcium reactor, vertex illumina sr 900 LED lighting(3footer), 2 vortech mp40wes, reefkeeper elite with net

10/05/2011, 11:18 PM	#3
imolaragazzo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 160	Do you have a lot of corals (sps) in your tank? Really you shouldn't have to be dosing a lot, if at all, to get the coralline algae, weekly or even biweekly changes should be enough to keep calcium levels there.

10/08/2011, 05:27 PM	#4
sstarr1114 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Utica, ny Posts: 54	checked calcium, it's around 460. My phosphates were .5 ppm. I need to do a water change. I have a phophate reactor but I may need new media. I've had it for a few months now. Waiting for new reverse osmosis filters to come in to do a water change. I think my filters starting getting really dirty before the last water change, that may not have helped.

10/09/2011, 05:47 PM	#6
sstarr1114 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Utica, ny Posts: 54	Checked alk too. It was 8. I'm going to make a few changes to my setup and see what happens. 1, I'm going to change the light over my refugium. My chaeto does not grow very good at all. I've read a light that is 6500K is perfect. 2, going to change my phosban media 3, I will change my reverse osmosis filters and do another water change. I really should put a TDS meter on my outlet. We'll see what happens. Thanks for the suggestions.

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