Live Rock Bleaching??

[jim672]

In the last week I've noticed some pure white spots on my LR. The spots seem to be growing and there seems to be more of them. Some of the older spots are now starting to turn green, with algea I assume.
Nothing in my tank has changed since June when I added my new lighting. My tank is pretty well established. It's been running almost 3 years and the rock has been in there since the start. It is completely covered with coraline.....or was.
When I was doing some cleaning I tried to scratch the white spots .....it's solid rock, not a growth.
Anyone have any ideas why my LR is bleaching? Is it a problem?
Jim

 

[stpabr]

Do you have an Emerald crab (Large size)?
I ask because I just got one and I found him scraping at a piece of rock with purple coraline, and now have white spots through out.
Hope this helps
Stephen

 

[jim672]

Nope. No emerald crab, just a couple of red-and blue-leg hermits.
Thanks, though.
Jim

 

[jonthefb]

how about algae eating fish? my lawnmower and bicolor both nibble on the rock as well as tangs, sometimes to the point that there are large white spots on the rock that they chewed through!
good luck
jon

 

[jim672]

Jon,
I wish it was. Since my "great ich epidemic" a year ago, I've been reluctant to add many fish......kind of concentrating on corals. I have only a maroon clown and a neon, tri-color damsel (which eats xenia, but I've never seen him near the LR).
Any other ideas? I assume the coraline will grow back, right?
Jim

 

[thomas712]

Give us your ; calcium, mag, and alk levels. If your bulbs are VHO and are almost 8 months old, the color may be shiffting and they might be getting old. Possibilities.
Thomas

 

[jonthefb]

this is intriguing. Have you had any major changes at all in the tank? any water changes lately, addition of new supplements, any large temp swings? very curious, and as thomas asked, i too am interested in you water params!
good luck
jon

 

[bdhough]

Coraline Algae needs calcium to grow, just like your corals. You idealy want 350-450. I wouldn't be suprised if it was below 350. Adding supplements?

 

[jim672]

Thanks for the responses.
I haven't checked my calcium level recently but I will tonight and let you know. I do dose calcium, molybidium (sp) and strontium weekly when I do a water change. I use Kent products.
I haven't had any changes, that I've noticed in any other parameters like temp. I did add a 3" t. maxima about two months ago. I guess he and my other corals could be absorbing the calcium and not leaving enough for the rock? (I have a huge hammer, large octo-bubble, frog spawn, colt, star polps, and 'shrooms.)
My light is a 175w 10K MH and two 95w VHO actinics. Yes, the VHO are almost exactly 6 months old. I was hoping to get the replacement bulbs from Santa. One way or another, they'll get replaced during the holidays. Could the age of the bulbs cause that big a change this quickly? I had all this rock under NO lighting for 2 years and didn't have this problem ??
Jim

 

[jim672]

Well, bdhough was right......unfortunately. My calcium measured 320. Alk was low too at 1.7. I did a top-off, added some buffer and some calcium supplement. I guess I need to supplement more than the once per week I was doing. I'll be keeping an eye on this hoping this will resolve the problem.
Jim