Why is my live rock turning white??

DMBFan · 09/28/2012, 11:28 AM

I have a new tank, it's been up for just over a week with just sand and rock. There are massive patches of white on the rock showing up. All of the purple on one of my power heads is now white... am I missing something in my water? What causes this? How can I fix it before I lose all my color?!?

coralsnaked · 09/28/2012, 12:33 PM

Water parameters, IE Ca - Ak as well as temp swings or exposure to air can all kill coraline algea and make the rock turn white.

Allmost · 09/28/2012, 12:38 PM

wait, new tank 1 week, with rock and sand and water.

I gues the power head wasnt new ?

you are going through cycle at this time, most of the coraline algae would die back and re grow, nothing to worry yourself about. it will come back in no time after cycle is complete. as mentjioned above, keep KH and CA++ stable for faster growth of it. lighting changes play a role too, change ure lighting and cyour coraline would re arrange itself ... might die some parts and grow another part ...

sponger0 · 09/28/2012, 12:38 PM

I second you need to get a water test of alk, magnesium, and calcium. Also do you know what your salinity is?

downbeach · 09/28/2012, 02:16 PM

Was the rock out of the tank, or tank empty? If the coraline is exposed to the air for any extended period of time, it will die off. What kind of lighting in the tank?

09/28/2012, 11:28 AM	#1
DMBFan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: 92843 Posts: 133	Why is my live rock turning white?? I have a new tank, it's been up for just over a week with just sand and rock. There are massive patches of white on the rock showing up. All of the purple on one of my power heads is now white... am I missing something in my water? What causes this? How can I fix it before I lose all my color?!? __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish Current Tank Info: All Empty

09/28/2012, 12:33 PM	#2
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Water parameters, IE Ca - Ak as well as temp swings or exposure to air can all kill coraline algea and make the rock turn white.

09/28/2012, 12:38 PM	#3
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	wait, new tank 1 week, with rock and sand and water. I gues the power head wasnt new ? you are going through cycle at this time, most of the coraline algae would die back and re grow, nothing to worry yourself about. it will come back in no time after cycle is complete. as mentjioned above, keep KH and CA++ stable for faster growth of it. lighting changes play a role too, change ure lighting and cyour coraline would re arrange itself ... might die some parts and grow another part ...

09/28/2012, 12:38 PM	#4
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	I second you need to get a water test of alk, magnesium, and calcium. Also do you know what your salinity is?

09/28/2012, 02:16 PM	#5
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Was the rock out of the tank, or tank empty? If the coraline is exposed to the air for any extended period of time, it will die off. What kind of lighting in the tank?