Coralline algae ??

wyvern

wyvern

Member
Hi all,
I need some help figuring out what is going on with the coralline algae on the LR. I'll try to post some pictures. Anyway, It looks like it's bleaching, turning white. Except, in some spots, it's turned dark gray. The gray spots are only on the top of the lr. I changed out the lghts the 1st week of Feb (compact flourescent : 2- 65 watt dual daylights & 2- 65watt dual antinic). I was having a problem with the KH and Ca levels at that time. KH was around 90ppm and the Ca was 600ppm. I have managed to get the KH to 130ppm -140ppm and the Ca around 400ppm - 420ppm. It's been holding in that range for about 2 weeks. I know nothing happens over night (except bad things), but surley the bleaching should of stopped by now. Could the lights be the cause? They are on for about 10 - 11 hrs.
100 gallon tank 18+ months old. Started using Red Sea Salt in Feb.
Temp 80
sp 1.024
pH 7.8 (can't seem to get it any higher)
ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
KH 140ppm
Ca 420ppm
(Before Feb. the sp was 1.022 and the coralline looked good. I don't think that's the prob.)
Ok. Couldn't figure out the picture thing. How do you do that?
Thanks



 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by wyvern
Hi all,
I need some help figuring out what is going on with the coralline algae on the LR. I'll try to post some pictures. Anyway, It looks like it's bleaching, turning white. Except, in some spots, it's turned dark gray. The gray spots are only on the top of the lr. I changed out the lghts the 1st week of Feb (compact flourescent : 2- 65 watt dual daylights & 2- 65watt dual antinic). I was having a problem with the KH and Ca levels at that time. KH was around 90ppm and the Ca was 600ppm. I have managed to get the KH to 130ppm -140ppm and the Ca around 400ppm - 420ppm. It's been holding in that range for about 2 weeks. I know nothing happens over night (except bad things), but surley the bleaching should of stopped by now. Could the lights be the cause? They are on for about 10 - 11 hrs.
100 gallon tank 18+ months old. Started using Red Sea Salt in Feb.
Temp 80
sp 1.024
pH 7.8 (can't seem to get it any higher)
ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
KH 140ppm
Ca 420ppm
(Before Feb. the sp was 1.022 and the coralline looked good. I don't think that's the prob.)
Ok. Couldn't figure out the picture thing. How do you do that?
Thanks
Is this new LR or have you had it for a while??? I bought a USED tank and transfered it to my place. I set up the live rock DIFFERENTLY than the previous owner,ALL the areas that were not exposed to light before had turned white,then started turning purple. My understanding is the white stuff is coraline algae....it just died off, but it will return with proper light and calcium levels.
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
It is possible it could be the bulbs,I would not think the SG of 24 would be a problem. Like I said before..white is dead coraline...but it WILL return under proper lighting,the GREY you are refering too.... I am clueless. Im sure somebody with greater knowledge than myself will chime in. Good luck.
 
wyvern

wyvern

Member
You can see the gray on the 1st picture just to the left of the xenia and on the right corner on the second picture. I know it's dying. How do I stop all of the coralline from dying? Everything was looking so good......
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
You say that you "changed out the lights". Do you mean you put new bulbs in OR changed the types of bulbs you had ??? Like did you have MH and then change to another type?
 
wyvern

wyvern

Member
Put new bulbs in. The others had been in there for over a year. I originally thought that the bulbs were bad as the algae was dying.
 
reeffreakgeek

reeffreakgeek

Member
I would test for iodine.I believe coralline needs that also.Changing your bulbs could of cause it.Too strong of lighting from what it was use to could of cause it to bleach.I believe it will come back.
Good luck
 
myrtle beach

myrtle beach

Member
I had a problem with die-off. After I went through all the trouble of finding LR with purple on it, 50% has turned white, I'm hoping it comes back. It makes my tank look more "official", and I paid top dollar for it too. I would guess that the change in lighting may have caused it, but I wouldn't sweat it, there seems to be a decent amount that can grow back.
 
wyvern

wyvern

Member
Ok, I will test for iodine and phosphates when I get the kits. The die-off started before I changed out the lights. That's the reason for the new bulbs. I was hoping there was something I could do to stop more die-off. I guess I'll have to sit it out and try not to freak out. Shouldn't be too hard right? lol Thanks for the help.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
could be from the old lights. I have read that bulbs should be changed on a 6 month schedule. Maybe the coralline was in the process of dying when you changed the lights. How is your calcuim level?
 
wyvern

wyvern

Member
Ca is at 420ppm. I add Seachem Reef Calcium when it starts to go down. I just turned the lights on and there is more dark gray than there was yesterday.
 
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