Questions on Coraline Algae

[laona]

Hi guys, i know this will sound as a stupid question...but if i dun ask i won't know..so here goes..and i hope senior reefers can give me an answer...

Coraline algae are the patches of purple on the LR right?? I can help but notice that in my friend's tank, and mine, the coraline algae seem to be fading and even disappearing.. and the LR seems to be dying...is it cos my conditions detoriated??how can i prevent it frm happen?? cos it seems that my fishes still surviving...saw in the forum that you can regrow the algae by putting new LR on top and waiting for some long time..and also heard frm a bro to give it abt 3hrs lighting treatment daily...

can pls advice?? thanks...

[madmac]

iaona,

No question is stupid. Live rocks seldom die, they are very hardy, and can 'live' out of water for quite a while... we're talking mainly about the bacteria in them. Most LRs are made up of layers of coraline algae over time. Coraline algae can die,... unless you go about intentionally trying to kill them, you'll see them around for a long time.

They can bleach and turn whitish from lighting over-exposure or from cases where you have excessive Ca in your water. Many reefers here have found that they thrive well in some shaded parts of the tank and they don't actually need a great deal of lighting to overgrow.

The main thing to watch out for is when you noticed that every single portion where there is coraline dies, even those in shaded parts, this massive die off is indicative that your water parameters are off. Is this the case?

Rocks that are over-laden with nutrients/phosphates won't have good coraline growth, you'll see algae growing in no time there.

If you get the your water parameters or lighting back in track, you'll see them spring back to life... theres no need to do add 'seeding'.

[KTLK]

It could be your Ca & Mg is low,also check your Kh

Coralline algae need these parameter in check in order to grow & sustain

[hammy]

once ur basic parameter such as calcium and magnisium are correct, couple with good flow and blast it with actinic light, coralline algae will grow .

[laona]

thanks bros again!!