Why is my live rock turning white? Says the Newbie

[senormatt]

So my tank has been running for 5 weeks all my chem's are good. Last week i added scooter blennie, Hipo tang, Sailfin Tang, 3 green chomis and somecrabs, a turbo's.
My live rock started to turn white a couple of days ago and is slowly getting worse. Anyone know what is going on or have any tips for me.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[lexluethar]

Your coraline algea is dying. Coraline growns in a mature tank with nigh calcium (and good lighting). If you take the rock out of the water the coraline will die (because every week when I clean my PH's off the coraline that was on it dies), or if you don't have high enough calcium.

 

[yosemite sam]

What are your water parameters, including PH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, salinity, and temperature? Where did you get the rock from? Was is cured? If not, how did you cure it?

 

[aquatica-tech]

Really sorry to steal part of the thread but how can I raise the calcium?

 

[beth]

Actually coraline doesn't really need lighting, but it does need calcium. Its not unusual for new tanks to go through this. Coraline will die off, and be replaced by new growth.
Aquatica, you can add calcium to your change water, making sure that it is well mixed before adding it to your tank. You need to use test kits to stay within acceptable parameters. 450 is a good starting point. Test your water first.

 

[aquatica-tech]

Originally Posted by Beth
http:///forum/post/2457278
Actually coraline doesn't really need lighting, but it does need calcium. Its not unusual for new tanks to go through this. Coraline will die off, and be replaced by new growth.
Aquatica, you can add calcium to your change water, making sure that it is well mixed before adding it to your tank. You need to use test kits to stay within acceptable parameters. 450 is a good starting point. Test your water first.
Thank you Beth but not the info im wanting like what supplements can I add to raise calcium like products or home products

 

[sigmachris]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
http:///forum/post/2457282
Thank you Beth but not the info im wanting like what supplements can I add to raise calcium like products or home products
If you want to supplement for calcium then add a calcium supplement...Kent's makes a good one. Never dose / supplement for something you aren't testing for though.

 

[senormatt]

ph 7.9(i'm trying to fix this with Kent pro-buffer dKH) Amonia 0 Nitrates 0 Nitrites 0, temp 80, Alk 1.023, not testing for mag or calcium should I?

 

[senormatt]

so are you saying that this white stuff will die, fall off then new stuff will start to grow

 

[senormatt]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam
http:///forum/post/2457265
What are your water parameters, including PH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, salinity, and temperature? Where did you get the rock from? Was is cured? If not, how did you cure it?
ph 7.9(i'm trying to fix this with Kent pro-buffer dKH) Amonia 0 Nitrates 0 Nitrites 0, temp 80, Alk 1.023, not testing for mag or calcium should I?

 

[apos]

Your salt mix should pretty much be setting the parameters right off the bat: trace elements, calcium, alk, ph, etc. Mine does anyway (instant ocean, and they make a brand with extra calcium called reef crystals).
In general, you shouldn't be needing to add much calcuim above your salt mix (if its a good one) unless you have things other than coraline that consume it. A few snails, tiny tubeworms, and coraline shouldn't be that needy.
My white dead coraline never "fell off" it just got overgrown.

 

[yosemite sam]

Originally Posted by SenorMatt
http:///forum/post/2457323
ph 7.9(i'm trying to fix this with Kent pro-buffer dKH) Amonia 0 Nitrates 0 Nitrites 0, temp 80, Alk 1.023, not testing for mag or calcium should I?
You should be testing for all of the things I listed in the previous post. 1.023 is a specific gravity reading, not alk, so please tell us what your alk is.
Also note that despite what the bottle may say, Kent pro-buffer dKH raises alkalinity, not PH. If you use too much of this, it will cause the PH to fall.

 

[emtguy]

check your Ph in the middle of your light cycle and remember to shake the Ph solution good before adding drops, i was'nt doing that and i got wrong readings.

 

[fatbrad70]

if you want some calcium in your tank just add some milk i heard that works good lol jk dont do that but kent is real good stuff