LR turning white??

[snooky]

My LR has been turning purple over the last few months with corraline algae,over the past two days my rock is starting to turn white.....its only happening where my pencil urchin is moving around....I have not added calcium as well recently....can it be the urchin???

 

[drewsta]

same thing is happening to me however from what I have observed the urchin is eating the coraline off the rocks. (I have seen mine do it)

 

[alyssia]

It it most likely the urchin...they will eat your coralline if they aren't getting enough other algae.

 

[snooky]

will the coraline grow back....or should I return the urchin to the LFS....The coralline algae looks great....the urchin was given to me by my neighbor, I probably would not have chosen one for the tank...are there any benefits to having the urchin in my tank....I dont have an algae problem anymore....thanks

 

[unleashed]

if your cal levels are kept in check the coraline should grow back.although coraline is a good thing in your tank as with anything too much can also be harmful.your urchin is most very well likely to have been eating it.but turming white is a sign of it dying.I do suggest checking your cal levels they should be in the ranges between 350-450 for good growth rates or carols and coraline algae

 

[alyssia]

When my urchin eats my coralline it leaves a whitish appearance on the rock.

 

[anonome]

If you are wanting a reef tank, IMO I would get rid of the urchin for store credit, why make you system work that much harder. :notsure: