coralline dead or alive?

CyberNeo99 · 05/31/2006, 11:47 AM

I set up my tank in january,coralline algae started to grow but was soon stopped and hair algae took over the tank. So far i've gotten rid of the hair algae, but what concerns me is the coralline algae, it's still purple, but it has a dull color, will it start growing again? after not being active for about 3 months? i have a 72 gallon tank with 2x150W 20,000K metal halide lamps on for 7 hours a day. nitrates are 0, ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, phosphates are undetectable, (running phosban & algae scrubber in refugium). calcium is 420 mg/l what do you guys think? or is the coralline dead?

mike89t · 05/31/2006, 11:53 AM

What are your Alk and Mg levels?

CyberNeo99 · 05/31/2006, 05:08 PM

i'll have to check for alkalinity tonight, as for the magnesium, i'm guessing its ok, since i do regular water changes (partial) and i'm dosing with "purple up" to try and help it grow..

but the hair algae just cleared last week, and this is the first time in months the coralline has been exposed , it looks purple but dull nonetheless.. what i'm asking is, is it dead? or does it have to bleach white in order to die?

Sk8r · 05/31/2006, 06:13 PM

No, not dead. It can peel like sunburn, and then brighten up. It may be stressed, but it will regrow. Personally, I'd stop the purple-up, because your current coralline should be 'seed' enough. Keep mg, alk, and cal all in balance, at suggested levels, and that will be the most important stimulus for the coralline to grow.

PatMayo · 05/31/2006, 08:28 PM

I concur with Sk8r, ditch the purple up and get the alkalinity and magnesium to correct levels. Coralline in my experience grows better in low nutrient water.

Regards,

Pat

05/31/2006, 11:47 AM	#1
CyberNeo99 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New York Posts: 19	coralline dead or alive? I set up my tank in january,coralline algae started to grow but was soon stopped and hair algae took over the tank. So far i've gotten rid of the hair algae, but what concerns me is the coralline algae, it's still purple, but it has a dull color, will it start growing again? after not being active for about 3 months? i have a 72 gallon tank with 2x150W 20,000K metal halide lamps on for 7 hours a day. nitrates are 0, ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, phosphates are undetectable, (running phosban & algae scrubber in refugium). calcium is 420 mg/l what do you guys think? or is the coralline dead?

05/31/2006, 11:53 AM	#2
mike89t Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chandler, Az Posts: 1,889	What are your Alk and Mg levels? __________________ Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks. Current Tank Info: Sold my 150G reef tank. :^(

05/31/2006, 06:13 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	No, not dead. It can peel like sunburn, and then brighten up. It may be stressed, but it will regrow. Personally, I'd stop the purple-up, because your current coralline should be 'seed' enough. Keep mg, alk, and cal all in balance, at suggested levels, and that will be the most important stimulus for the coralline to grow. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/31/2006, 08:28 PM	#5
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	I concur with Sk8r, ditch the purple up and get the alkalinity and magnesium to correct levels. Coralline in my experience grows better in low nutrient water. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

05/31/2006, 05:08 PM	#3
CyberNeo99 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New York Posts: 19	i'll have to check for alkalinity tonight, as for the magnesium, i'm guessing its ok, since i do regular water changes (partial) and i'm dosing with "purple up" to try and help it grow.. but the hair algae just cleared last week, and this is the first time in months the coralline has been exposed , it looks purple but dull nonetheless.. what i'm asking is, is it dead? or does it have to bleach white in order to die?