coraline algae

201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
hey everyone. i need help on this one. ive had the tank going for about say 7 months. its a 90 gallon. i have a 35 hex which is fine. the problem im having is i had coraline algae growing on the liverock and it had nice deep pink and purple coloring on it but now for the past month or so it looks like its fading away or lightening. is there something i can do to fix it or something like add bacteria or anything i mean my parameters r fine. i checked them last nite? the only test kit i dont have are calcium (well i have that one but the results dont look rite) and i dont have the phosphate kit. is there anything i can do because i would love for the rock to get its coloring again. some of the rocks still have deep coloring but some r losing it.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
coraline need good calcium level and low phosphate level to thrive. i am pretty sure those r the things that is effecting their growth. there is a product called purple up that is supposed to replenish the calcium for coraline algae.
 
anthropo

anthropo

Member
Originally Posted by nycbob
coraline need good calcium level and low phosphate level to thrive. i am pretty sure those r the things that is effecting their growth. there is a product called purple up that is supposed to replenish the calcium for coraline algae.
agreed, the only reason it is losing it's color is cause there is a lack of calcium
 
201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
ok here are my parameters:ammonia: 0nitrites/trates: both 0
copper: .10 out of .5 they said having a reading of .15 if therapeutic (idk, is it?)
sg: 1.0255
Ph: 7.8 but i do have buffers i will be using in a day or 2 cause i just did a water change today
temp: 77.2
kh/alk: kh(8.0 dkH), alk(2.86 meq/L)
Calcium: 470 (on the test pamphlet, it says average calcium should be btwn 400 and 425)
I do a water change every other week with a top off every week. i change about 20 gallons (22%). Its a 90g tank
the thing is i use a liquid calcium that i pour into the tank about 10 ml of it twice a week for the snails and shrimps and what not and i pour about 10 ml of iodine once a week.
i was having algae problems a week or 2 ago and was asked to put some powerheads in the tank and its been working well so far no algae blooms or anything. im gonna put two more in pretty soon. 3 days or so
 
b bauer

b bauer

Member
have you been adding the iodine just resent?doing the water changes 22% every week you dont need the iodine imo
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
If you are using a good salt mix you shouldn't need to add anything. pH is a little low. Cal on high side. Is this your norm? I would do weekly water changes with a good salt. Stop adding additives.
 
wfd1008

wfd1008

Member
maybe your lights. i don't know, but maybe your bulbs are going south. i don't know if that would affect it that much. maybe someone could answer this.
 
201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
well i havent used iodine for quite some time. yea i know the calcium is pretty high imo also. is there anything i can do to bring it down a bit to a normal range. im using INSTANT OCEAN salt. I was using Reed Salt which has more calcium but havent used in 1.5 months. what kind of salt do you use mcbdz (omg the forbidden question lol)? the lfs around here use or have the same salts and the only other one i know of that i think mite carry a different salt is 30 to 40 minutes away but they have pretty nice fish but prices r a bit high.
lights?
i dont think it could be those. i bought new ones 2 days ago but the fading was happening way before this. i had power glow and a marine glow (40 w's each, power glow 18000k and marin glow 0) but maybe any insight on that anyone? plz someone help lol

forgot to mention. i use tap water but have it running in a bucket for a week with heater and flow so the salt mixes well. i will be buying a ro unit very soon however. hopefully by my bday next month
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
I dont think your calcium is too high 450 is optimum for coraline algea propogation. Do you have actinic lighting? I have read that turning your actinics on a couple of hours before all your other lights come on may acutually help your coral line grow. I agree your PH is down a bit, I would try for 8.2. Other than that I too am at a loss...
 
sk8shorty01

sk8shorty01

Active Member
If you are using tap water rather than RO water you are probably introducing phosphates to the system which can cause your coraline to diminish. I would run a quick test on your tap water and see if you come up with any phosphates because that could solve everything. If you dont have a phosphate tester yet (I see you said you didnt) you could always bring in a water sample to your LFS. Just make sure you ask to see the actual numbers, and not just listen to them say, "yup, they're good".
 
201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
the lfs is where i used to work at a summer before college and i went there not too long ago. i think a week ago, they dont have a phosphate test kit either nor do they carry them. ive asked the store owner to order me one and he has the basketballs to say they discontinued them but when i look at their website, they have them and will ship it. hes such a butt. yea as soon as i get that test kit i will be testing the tap water because i have a feeling its that. i have acitinic lights i have one in its box still and one on the lights i think ill switch the sun glo for the other acitinic and switch it back later in the day. thanks guys
 
ogredawg

ogredawg

Member
Hello Chris,
Your parameters looks great, better than mine at least. In my experience when I had Power compacts my coraline algae didn't grow as quick eventhough my parameters were near perfect. My calcium was running 500 and still no coraline algae. When I started doing higher lighting I noticed more coraline in the tank. As you know I have a barebottom tank and the bottom part where my rocks are sitting doesn't have any coraline, well maybe a spot here and there but not as crazy as the areas that aren't covered. That might be the reason also why the color was fading.
I don't know anything about chemistry so I know I might be wrong on this, but I'm just saying based on my experience. My current tank has only been up for 2 months and the bottom is almost covered with coraline. Oh and all the rocks I've had in the past and now, it could be covered with coraline but the back side won't have any. And I've never been to a fish store where their "fish only or aggressive tank" is full of coraline.
HTH
 
201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
yeah im thinking about getting in touch with the guy who helped me with this tank. he sold me 230 pounds of LR and 40 pounds of his LS for get this, $150. he was moving and just wanted to get rid of everything. he even gave me his mating pair of clown fish but gave those away cuz i had to cycle the tank and didnt want them dead and didnt wanna stress them in a 35 hex. neway back to the subject. he had MH lights and im thinking about getting in touch with him tomorrow and ask him if by some miracle he still has them. corssing fingers. i hope itll help. thanks for responding to my PM also. i appreciate that to the greatest extent.
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
Sorry it took me so long to answer. I use Red Sea Coral Pro, I have used Reef Crystal before also and both did well.
 
201_0_o_datsnj

201_0_o_datsnj

Member
o ok cool. yea i think once my calcium goes down i mite go ahead and use reef salt because i plan on my tank more reefish. it has the room and potential and i plan on making DIY LR and a wet/dry into a fuge and everything.
 
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