Coralline algea bleaching

[intyme]

I've noticed my coralline turning white over the last few weeks. I think I have my params under control.

Temp 79
Salinity 1.026
Ph 8-8.2
Alk 10
PO4 .03 ? It's the API test kit and it's in the middle I know they are high but running gfo

Nitrate 0

Idk calcium
My lights are. 4 bulb t5.. 10000k,purple and 2 atinics they run for 10hr and white are on 4hrs

Any help would be great thanks

 

[jrozzi]

too much light would be my guess

 

[intyme]

too much light would be my guess

You mean like too long of a light period?

 

[jrozzi]

Well 10 hours isn't really out of the ordinary so I would say too bright. I don't know much about t5 tho never used them. Maybe someone can chyme in on those.

 

[jrozzi]

Did you change bulbs recently or lighting fixture?

 

[Voodoo Corals]

You think you have parameters in check?

So what's your mag and cal?

 

[bertoni]

Those parameters should be fine, although a more precise phosphate measurement might be useful. I agree that lighting might be an issue, either too much or too little. A big change in the feeding level might have some effect, too.

 

[intyme]

The light fixture is 4 months old everything was brand new. Not sure of the mag levels and the last time I checked the cal was at 450 (3days ago)

 

[bertoni]

Calcium at 450 ppm is fine. I can't comment on the lighting system because I don't know how long the various bulbs (or LEDs) last. My MH bulbs were good for more than 4 months, although the PC last only a bit longer than that.

 

[intyme]

From what I've researched t5s should last for 10 months - a year

 

[bertoni]

I might start by getting a few second opinions on test kits, but it's possible that some animal is eating your coralline, depending on the patterns in the faded areas.

 

[inetmug]

Every time I used to get white in my 55G reef around the edges it was water quality, I could do a change it and it would bounce back.

I also had an urchin that would chow down on it as well. He went to another tank.

 

[intyme]

The only thing in my tank is a pair of clowns, some hermits and snails. There are a few asterina stars but I pick them out when I see it. The bleaching is on top of the rocks, I'm thinking it's my lights

 

[MimicOcto8]

How many corals do you have in your reef? lights won't cause it to bleach. It'll turn white if its been out of the water too long or if the corals are using Alk, Mag, and Ca faster which is a good thing. The more LPS, SPS corals there are the more they use=less for coralline algae

 

[intyme]

I have mostly frags, 2 zoanthids 1 sps and 4mushrooms and they are doing very well. My sps is about and inch tall

 

[MimicOcto8]

Size of aquarium

 

[MimicOcto8]

Also what's your magnesium.

 

[intyme]

Also what's your magnesium.

Idk what my magnesium is.

It's a 65 with about 10 gallons in the sump

 

[MimicOcto8]

Magnesium is important as it allows calcium and alkalinity to be used. If magnesium is too high or too low or swings too much corals and coralline algae won't be able to efficiently use ca and alk. Which stunts growth. If your alk or magnesium spiked that can cause bleaching too.

I see your salinity is on the high side. Did it fall low at one point? A sudden drop in salinity can also cause problems. Or raising it too quickly.

 

[Sonicboom]

how old is the tank? my corraline completely bleached on walls and overflow but was from too intense LED lighting, lowered the intensity and it has exploded in growth, so much so that it is now on the snails.