how can you tell if lr is dying

Discussion in 'Live Rock' started by seabass, Nov 15, 2006.

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  1. seabass

    seabass Astrea Snail

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    :confused: :confused: i have some lr my tank the tank has cycled and I am starting to see my lr in some spots turn white. others spots turning brown. with red hair growing on it. Before i do my water change i think i will scrub the rocks can anybody help me out. i stacked base rock on top of lr could this be the problem stuff from the br falling on top of lr. any ideas??

    Thanks
    Tony
     
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  3. dano

    dano Spaghetti Worm

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    If you have die off in small area's you should be alright. it will come back providing your levels are all in order.
    i stacked mt dead base rock under the live. i cant really see the base rock but after a year, i moved some rock around and i couldnt tell the difference.
     
  4. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

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    The white spots could be something dying in or on your live rock(for instance-sponge) or it could be coralline algae bleaching due to insufficient light or water flow. You can teel by smelling the live rock out of the tank as well as it will emit a foul odor.
     
  5. seabass

    seabass Astrea Snail

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    sounds good i think it is the water flow i have a coralife 2 65 watts 10,000 k and 2 65 watts blue light they are both on for 8-10 hrs i think its my flow i will have to move the rocks around thanks
    Tony
     
  6. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

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    the white is coraline algea and it will likely come back. It sounds like your rock is going through it's normal cycle. Everything is fine just let it be until you measure zero in Ammonia and Zero nitrites

    then you will still have a few algae blooms to deal with

    J
     
  7. seabass

    seabass Astrea Snail

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    yes my ammonia and nitrite are at 0 right now i had a bloom in hair algae and also brown diatom algae so far the 2 rocks with the hair algae i took them out of the tank and scrubbed them down to remove the algae. they are purple. Last night the lr was on the bottom of my br so i moved the rocks around put the lr on top of bs and adjusted my power head and my return so the currents crash with each other. I will be doing my water change this weekend.
    Tony
     
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  9. davidh

    davidh Astrea Snail

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    sounds like my problem, i had lots of coraline now its brown and not much coraline, my levels are good and fine. Some one said purple up is the go?
    wat u think
     
  10. sssnake

    sssnake Montipora Digitata

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    +1 on that !

    As far as Purple Up goes, personally I would let nature take its course and would not add anything to speed-up the coraline growth. My LR looked pretty pale when I first started my tank with the exception of one small piece of rock which had some purple coraline on it and now, 8 months later, there's purple stuff all over the place.

    Be patient. "Go slow let it grow" - Matt ........ works every time!

    Good luck.
     
  11. RCBruce

    RCBruce Astrea Snail

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    Personally I would have to disagree with that. I had these same problems a year ago when I started. I used purple up and things immediately turned around. Remember, purple up is not only for coraline growth, but is a super calcium supplement. The faster you get coraline to grow, the fewer problems you have with hair alge. Also, red slime problems are a result of phosphates. Chemi pure in the filter is the best thing I have found for getting tank in shape and keeping it that way. I won't run my system without it.
    Jumt my experiances.
     
  12. Tangster

    Tangster 3reef Sponsor

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    Not trying to sound sarcastic or a smart A$$ but if you would just take the time to seed the tank and get the water parameters up to par and stable you will find more long term enjoyment from the hobby.. You can't rush Bacteria and Coraline's they come when they are being supplied with what they need.

    Get you water to proper parameters and seed it then they will come.. Until you have met the Coraline's requirements in the water chemistry then you will never have them or many other corals and fish.. I consider these simple life forms as a great barometer as to a tanks health and the tank master's experiences with establishing a healthy system..

    There is no substitute for patiences and experience.. learn the water chemistry that is needed to grow the Coraline's then you will be way ahead of the instant gotta have artificial way people try to do thing these day. Like many have already stated . Build it properly the first time and it will last.. I'd take my time read some information on the needs of the Coraline's and then seed the tank and learn how to properly get them established But it will never happen fast.. As with most things in this hobby. Good things happen really slowly and you will find also the bad things happen really fast! But this is just my opinion..