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[dicemanj]

2 Questions
1) Some of my LR is turning white, Is this normal. It has been in my tank for about 2 weeks.
2) One of my clowns have a few white specs on it. I can't get a good picture, does this sound like Ick? He is eating and swimming fine. Is there anything I can do for him besides QT tank?
Thanks

 

[flydan]

Hey,
Fully cured lr should not turn white. It is an indication that the coralline algae is dying and leaving just the calcium deposit behind.
Without seeing what's going on with your percs I don't know if it's ick but it sounds like it. They are usually a pretty hardy fish and not prone to ick but if something else brought the parasite into your tank it's possible it got it. I have heard that the more stressed your fish is the more likely they are to die from this desease. You may want to ask this question in the desease forum for a better answer and how to treat it.
HTH,
Dan'l

 

[thomas712]

You need to examin your lighting, alkalinity and calcium for the live rock.
for the fish read up on ick in the disease forum to try to properly identify it.
Thomas

 

[purity]

damn...so the rock turning white is a BAD thing? well that sux. mine's been doing it too and it all started when i started adding Kent Calcium.
what really floors me is that everytime i test for calcium, i'm coming up short. yet i add about 1.5 teaspoons of this crap everyday! is this all a conspiracy?

 

[flydan]

Hey,
It all depends on the load in your tank. If you have a lot of lr with lots of inverts and corals, they all draw calcium from your water and you have to replace it. (It has to go somewhere right?) Lots of people use a kalkwasser drip method for there systems. Just an idea.
HTH,
Dan'l

 

[purity]

yeah i've got a decent amount of both so that would make sense. i use the kalk but only to nuke aptasias.

 

[thomas712]

Purity - kent calcuim what? liquid or Turbo ?
You may need to double dose.
Have you checked your magnesium levels?
Thomas

 

[purity]

i'm not sure tom. i know it's in the yellow bottle but i'll check it when i get home and letcha know. haven't checked my magnesium level cause i don't have a mag test. i didn't even know they made mag tests...
what could the magnesium level mean?

 

[thomas712]

Purity -
Magnesium works hand in hand with cal and alk. Maintanance level is about 1300 ppm. In our tanks we sometimes overdose the Calcium and Alkalinity suppliments when this happens the CaCO3 will precipitate, you know that snowstorm effect? Mag helps to prevent that so that we can supersaturate the water colum with enough cal and alk to grow our corals and coralline algea, rather mag delays the precipitation level or raises it. If your mag is low that could explain why you can keep your calcium level up or your alk. If you add alk or cal to fast then it will drive the other down it can also drive your mag out of solution and you will get that yo-you affect with your alk and cal.
Thomas

 

[ronipa]

I use those "rock blocks" they have all the elements needed in them and dissolve on their own.. They don't work for everyone but have done well for me.
Roni