Weird!

[jfbhd4]

I had some good coraline growing on my crushed coral/seashell bed. I just put in some new salt, and it tured from purple to green?! Some of my rock is turning too!
Why is this happening?

 

[DrBDC]

Did you change salt brands? If so what kind to what kind and did you test the new saltwater parameters?

 

[jfbhd4]

Nope same salt.
I made my brother pick it up for me in ST louis because they didnt have that brand in Columbia.

 

[DrBDC]

Test the tank's ca/alk/mag and pH. I'd mix up some more saltwater and give that a test too.

What brand is it?

 

[jfbhd4]

Coralife.
I dont have a test kit for ca/alk/mag. They dont sell em in columbia. Pathetic.
I need to get one.

 

[DrBDC]

Normally the ca alk and mag are all good if not arguably high so that really shouldn't be an issue unless it would be a bad batch. I've never heard of one with that salt. I've heard hearsay about phosphates, nitrates, etc but never on the major elements. Had it been a really long time since a water change? Did you use tap water or ro/di?

 

[jfbhd4]

I has been about 3 weeks on the water change. Everything in the tank is going great. Improved Coraline growth on rocks and on shells.
I always use RO water.
I Also had a few mushrooms that were near the place I put the salt in and they died too.

I just poured the salt directly in the tank, which is different that what I usually do.
It was only about a cup, so I didnt think it was a big deal.
Guess it was.

 

[Indermark]

This happened to me as well. But i was using Oceanic salt and wasn't getting much coral line algae and what i would get would be green. now that I switched to Seachem Reef Salt The green is either being covered with red or is turning weird. I just thought it was just nature taking its place or something.

Ryan

 

[Dert42]

oooo you should mix the salt up in water first.
if you're just dumping a cup of salt straight into the tank, you're shocking the heck out of anything near it.
i slowly syphon my new water into the tank.

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8460586#post8460586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfbhd4
I just poured the salt directly in the tank, which is different that what I usually do.
It was only about a cup, so I didnt think it was a big deal.
Guess it was.

There is your problem. Mix it before you add it.

Mystery solved

 

[McBeck]

Ditto Dert's comment - you shouldn't add salt directly. It will burn whatever it contacts and anything in the immediate vicinity.

 

[saltyunderground]

Also, it's best to mix it in RO (and DI) water 24 hours prior to adding it to the tank. It will give all of the elements in the salt time to react to each other. There is a reaction once in water that does not take place in the dry bag. You need to measure the salinity and adjust if needed before it goes in the tank.

Yet another explanation I stink at giving. But you can get a great explanation for it at the next SEASL meeting.

 

[jfbhd4]

Yea, i now realize that I shouldnt have dumped it in. Since it was so little, i doubted it would matter.
I was WRONG!
I killed a few mushrooms, but the rest of the tank survived.
From now on I will mix all of it.
That is what I do 98% of the time.

 

[Indermark]

why did my coral line algae start green then turn redish? I have never added salt directly into my tank. Strange.

Ryan

 

[inwall75]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8468328#post8468328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Indermark
why did my coral line algae start green then turn redish? I have never added salt directly into my tank. Strange.

Ryan

You had spores of both types of coralline in your tank to begin with. Your tank apparently serves the needs of the red species better and that is overtaking the green species.

 

[Indermark]

sounds like a good answer to me.

Ryan