My liverock is turning white?

mortman · 03-04-2002, 09:52 PM

The liverock in my tank is starting to turn white.
The coralline alge appears to be disappearing.

My cycle is almost over. Nitrites are @ zero. At first I
thought that I might be bleaching it with my M/H bulb.
So I have not used the halide in over a week.

Can anyone explain this???

Thanks
Mortman

bongobrian · 03-05-2002, 09:50 AM

Do you have any actinics on the tank? coraline algea prefers the blue end of the spectrum. Also, do a test for phosphate because high levels will decrease or even stop the calcification process. Alkalinity and Calcium are crucial as well. Make sure you keep the Alkalinity up and Calcium should be about 350ppm or higher.

SomeHairyOldGuy · 03-05-2002, 10:45 AM

As you said your cycle is "almost" over, I think its just the coraline die off. Aslong as the param's are ok just sit back and let it do its thing. Do what bongo said and the coraline will grow back.
SHOG

mortman · 03-05-2002, 04:57 PM

THANKS SHOG AND BONGO

REEFERS RULES !!! LOL

J. MORT.

bongobrian · 03-06-2002, 09:38 AM

you're most welcome mortman- did you test your Alk and Ca for us? what were the results?

mortman · 03-06-2002, 07:40 PM

I don't have alkalinity or calcium testers yet.
Yesterday I put in my new M/H bulb. It's a 175w
10000k Aqualine. Today one of my formally corraline
encrusted rocks is almost totally white.

I'm a lil frustrated here.
Morty

WannaBeAReefer · 03-07-2002, 07:08 PM

The most obvious answer (which no one has mentioned is that your calcium is precipitating out and is "snowing" on your live rock. It's possible your Ca+ is over 450ppm... and if so your live rock would definitely start turning white on the top sides.

mortman · 03-07-2002, 08:26 PM

What can i do about this reefer? I don't know of any way
to bring down the ca levels.

Thanks
Mort

hllywd · 03-07-2002, 09:29 PM

Splurge for the test kits mort, consider them required equipment... then you'll know.... If you don't you'll always be wandering around without enough information to get the correct answer even if you stumble on the right question... ;-)
You can spend a lot more (and cause yourself many headaches) than the kits cost guessing at what you're doing.
Tim

PerryinCA · 03-07-2002, 09:43 PM

The whitening is die off. The coraline algae will return with the proper lighitng and proper nutrient levels in the tank. It can take up to 6 months to start to really see the deep coloration you are looking for. In the next few months, keep stock levels low (fish) and that will help as the nutrients they contribute to the tank will aid bothersom growth of derbesia and other unwanted algaes. Most important aspect of the reef tank is patience. Needs to be preached more often.

-Perry

03-04-2002, 09:52 PM	#1
mortman Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Northeast, MD. Posts: 36	My liverock is turning white? The liverock in my tank is starting to turn white. The coralline alge appears to be disappearing. My cycle is almost over. Nitrites are @ zero. At first I thought that I might be bleaching it with my M/H bulb. So I have not used the halide in over a week. Can anyone explain this??? Thanks Mortman

03-05-2002, 09:50 AM	#2
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	Do you have any actinics on the tank? coraline algea prefers the blue end of the spectrum. Also, do a test for phosphate because high levels will decrease or even stop the calcification process. Alkalinity and Calcium are crucial as well. Make sure you keep the Alkalinity up and Calcium should be about 350ppm or higher. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

03-05-2002, 10:45 AM	#3
SomeHairyOldGuy Mayor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: OU Posts: 736	As you said your cycle is "almost" over, I think its just the coraline die off. Aslong as the param's are ok just sit back and let it do its thing. Do what bongo said and the coraline will grow back. SHOG __________________ BOOMER SOONER!!!!

03-06-2002, 09:38 AM	#5
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	you're most welcome mortman- did you test your Alk and Ca for us? what were the results? __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

03-06-2002, 07:40 PM	#6
mortman Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Northeast, MD. Posts: 36	I don't have alkalinity or calcium testers yet. Yesterday I put in my new M/H bulb. It's a 175w 10000k Aqualine. Today one of my formally corraline encrusted rocks is almost totally white. I'm a lil frustrated here. Morty __________________ " If he claims to be a wise man, then he surely does not know"

03-05-2002, 04:57 PM	#4
mortman Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Northeast, MD. Posts: 36	THANKS SHOG AND BONGO REEFERS RULES !!! LOL J. MORT.

03-07-2002, 07:08 PM	#7
WannaBeAReefer Just Moved In Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 46	The most obvious answer (which no one has mentioned is that your calcium is precipitating out and is "snowing" on your live rock. It's possible your Ca+ is over 450ppm... and if so your live rock would definitely start turning white on the top sides.

03-07-2002, 08:26 PM	#8
mortman Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Northeast, MD. Posts: 36	What can i do about this reefer? I don't know of any way to bring down the ca levels. Thanks Mort __________________ " If he claims to be a wise man, then he surely does not know"

03-07-2002, 09:29 PM	#9
hllywd Just Moved In Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 40	Splurge for the test kits mort, consider them required equipment... then you'll know.... If you don't you'll always be wandering around without enough information to get the correct answer even if you stumble on the right question... ;-) You can spend a lot more (and cause yourself many headaches) than the kits cost guessing at what you're doing. Tim

03-07-2002, 09:43 PM	#10
PerryinCA Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 2,103	The whitening is die off. The coraline algae will return with the proper lighitng and proper nutrient levels in the tank. It can take up to 6 months to start to really see the deep coloration you are looking for. In the next few months, keep stock levels low (fish) and that will help as the nutrients they contribute to the tank will aid bothersom growth of derbesia and other unwanted algaes. Most important aspect of the reef tank is patience. Needs to be preached more often. -Perry

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