Can algae kill coral?

[mangelo]

As many of you know I am fighting a bad, bad algae problem. Is it possible for algae to kill corals?

 

[Amphiprionocellaris]

Unfortunately, that's a simple question with a complicated answer. Directly, algae cannot kill coral (ie they can't injure it the way coral can injure coral). However, indirectly, algae can have very negative effects on coral. This can range from direct overgrowth (cutting the coral off from light or even invading the skeleton) to compeition for vital nutrients. In my experience, the most common problem is the release by the algae of various fouling substances into the water, which can be easily corrected by running activated carbon, if you aren't already. Other than that, algae pose no threat to coral (but do keep in mind that tank conditions which favor algae might themselves be responsible for coral problems).

Sorry for the round-about answer...I'm an ecologist and this is my specific field.

 

[sassafrass]

Yes

 

[crvz]

False perc nailed it (though probably doesnt like the way I addressed them), it's mostly a competition for nutrients and space that ends with the coral's demise. So yes, algae can kill coral.

 

[mangelo]

Well, I am on my second water change of 0.00 TDS water and I swear my algae is gettin worse!

 

[mangelo]

I've had 3 green star corals bite the dust in the past month. The one was huge and just stopped opening up. I waited over a month and nothing. The second was just the polyp. There were a few times a few would pop out, but most of the time nothing.

I've lost some zoos that were on shells and frag disks.

???

 

[sassafrass]

What are your water parameters? What are your tank specifics (light ,flow, filtration,other)?

 

[saltwaterjames]

I would probably start using some kind of phosphate removing media like phosban and cut back on the amount you are feeding or the amount of nutrients you are puting into your tank. Phosphates feed algea so that is where I would start. Good luck!!

 

[mangelo]

The only parameters I know are :
pH - 8.3
NO3 = 80ppm
NO2 = 0ppm
SG = 1.025
temp around 80

I have added Fluval carbon and phosphate media to my canister.

 

[jbc123]

Isn't 80ppm nitrates extremely high? That would explain the algae problem and coral death.

 

[mangelo]

The jury is out on the nitrates. Some say bad, some say corals like nitrates. Most information I read says that there isn't complete info on NO3 and corals.

I am going to do weekly water changes to get these params under control.

Do I need to change more than 10 gal / 75 gal (about 13%)?

 

[sassafrass]

Different species of coral prefer different types of water quality however that is not what needs to be addressed . Everyone can agree that algea loves nitrate (needs it to grow) so lowering that is your first priority. If you end up with nitrates at 0 I am sure that is a problem many reefers would like to have. To get them lower I would do 25% water changes for the next few weeks until nitrate is .05 then go back to 13% weekly. you also need to look at why they got so high ion the first place(probably overfeeding or inadequate nutrient export)you may need a more effecient skimmer.
Lee