[Bigred0942]

Hey people!! I am a fairly newbe in the reef aquarium hobby, and I am trying to maintain coralline algae. I have introduced it to my tank in the form of covered live rock and snails with it on their shells. After time it turns white. I did use purple up, but that didnt do anything. I currently use Kalk as a top-off. My chem is as follows:

PH 8.4
CA: 380-400
alk: 9
everything else is zero.

I do have a few turbo snail, and a few crabs, but I have not seen any of then nibble on the coralline when I did have it. I have 250 watt 15k MH lamps, but I have them approx 12 inches about my 55 gallon tank.

Any suggestions on how to see some purple??????? I want to see a little purple before I put more life in the tank.

Can you please let me know.

[Peterock]

how old is the tank

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Bigred0942

I have introduced it to my tank in the form of covered live rock and snails with it on their shells.

Usually that will do it. It could take several weeks.

After time it turns white.

Hmmm... That's not a good sign but your pH, Ca and alkalinity are all fine.

I did use purple up, but that didnt do anything.

The principle ingredient in PurpleUp is fine aragonite sand. I have no idea why the manufacturer thinks it will somehow contribute to the growth of coralline algae. That's a mystery.

I do have a few turbo snail, and a few crabs, but I have not seen any of then nibble on the coralline when I did have it.

They won't bother your coralline, but urchins will.

I have 250 watt 15k MH lamps, but I have them approx 12 inches about my 55 gallon tank.

That's fine. Coralline algae doesn't do well under strong lighting anyway. Your lighting if fine.

Any suggestions on how to see some purple??????? I want to see a little purple before I put more life in the tank.

Raising your calcium level a little higher would help: 425-450 ppm. Maybe you just need to be a little more patient. However, if purple coralline algae is turning white in your tank, then something is amiss.

[Ratpack]

Some of mine turned white when I changed my substrate, but it soon turned back the pink-purple color. I have heard others say the same thing, almost like it can get moody. Just do as mentioned in raising your calcium and watch it for a week or two. If it doesn't turn back, then you may have something that hasn't been detected, perhaps another element is too high or low.

[Bigred0942]

I started my tank in July of 2007.

Thank You Ninong!

[Bigred0942]

I have a magnesiom and stron. test comming (Well I did order them over a month ago). I also test for Amonia, Nitrate, Nitrite. Anything else I should test for???

[Ninong]

It's possible that your magnesium is low and that might be your problem. Kalkwasser maintains calcium and alkalinity but it does almost nothing for magnesium. When I dosed Kalkwasser, I had to add magnesium every couple of months or so.

[Ratpack]

Actually magnesium could be the issue. I know now that I have started adding a little homemade magnesium water, my coraline has taken off and the soft corals do look a little better.