[WILLIAM1]

So I got some live rock on monday and it seemed to be doing great until I noticed that the pink corillan algae started to dissapeare and some of the purple is starting to turn white. My parameters are as falows:

Phosphate 0.0

P.H. 8.4

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 0

Calcium is at 380

DKH 11.2

I just started to use purple up to raise my calcium levels know os that something I could use daily until my calcium levels go up/ I have also been using some trace elements from Kent once a week. Can anyone help I dont want to lose the growth.

[glampka]

What else is in your tank? Is it just this piece of rock where the corraline is changing or is it happening thoughout the tank? Do you have hermits/snails with coralline on their shells that is changing too? There are urchins that munch on the coralline. I wouldn't use Purple up everyday though. I've read of people having trouble when they overdose.

[WILLIAM1]

Like I said I just got the live rock monday and almost all the pink algae has turned to a off purple color and the purple is turning white in some spots. The snails that have the algae seem to be doing fine. Just on the rock in some spots its turning white.

[glampka]

Calcium is at the low end of the range. I'd add some Purple Up every few days & keep an eye on it. Are these spots where it's changing color close to the surface? Don't know what your lighting is but it could also be bleaching.

[WILLIAM1]

My lighting is an orbit 48'' Dual Daylight 10,000K and 6700K and Dual Actinics 460nmand 420 nm with lunar lights. The algae that is turning white I would say is near the surface about 6 to 10 inches deep. The live rock with the pink algae that is turning brownish plum color is a little deeper. What does bleaching mean?

[WILLIAM1]

It seems the algae is not as vibrant as it was either.Been doing a little research and I heard that it might be becuase there is not enough light and or to much light. Personaly I dont have the lighting that I want yet but I'm working on it. I do have some feather dusters and some type of white worm on the rocks that retreats in the dark when I look with a flashlight. I beleive I can see some small particles of purple algae on some of the base rock that I purchased a few months ago when I started my tank. Defenatly some green growing on the rocks and glass as well.

[glampka]

Since the algae that is turning is closer to the lights, it sounds like bleaching from too much light. To be certain you could switch a piece from the bottom to the top & see what happens. It's also possible that it's just taking some time to really acclimate to your tank.

[msbdiving]

I can't remember where I read it, I think it was in about.com. The article said that when moved into a new environment, it was common for the coralline to bleach. It had to do with mostly a lighting that it hadn't been accustomed to. The algae adjusts as long as your calcium levels are adequate and lighting stays consistent. Does not mean to not turn off lights at night.

[pogodzib]

The rock has more than likely been out of the water and it is under different lighting. It is very common for it to bleach. There isn't anything that you can do about it. Most of the time there will be other coralline spores under the bleach spores that will eventually work their way out and seed your tank.

[WILLIAM1]

I shouldnt try to lower the live rock with the coralline on it away from the light a little. When I bought the live rock it had been curing about 5 weeks with a nice water flow and no light. Is it adjusting to the light that I have and is this going to kill the algae I so despretly want. I'm going to get some pics and post them.

[msbdiving]

Don't worry about it. Keep it as is with the light and make sure your calcium levels are in the zone and it'll do ok. It will come back, it'll just take some time. Remember, in this hobby patience is a virtue.

[WILLIAM1]

I'll just wait to see what happens. I'll dfo some regular tests for my calcium. Its kinda hard to regulate it perfectly but I'll work on it. I'm using purple up weekly to maintain the right levels. Thanks agian for all your help everyone.