Paling Live Rock? Could Snails Be To Blame????

miaskies · 01-21-2009, 02:35 AM

OK, so I bought about 60 pounds of live rock. When I first bought it It was mostly bright purple. I have noticed that a few of the pieces almost look to be slowly bleaching out. The rock came with a small hermit crab, an astrea snail and about 5-7 snails that have no shell. My tank is a 55 and as far as live rock goes, only about 3 of the large pieces are totally covered in thick, purple algae, but it appears to be fading. The one snail that has a shell has been on the one piece of rock for weeks now, grazing, grazing, grazing.

I use reef crystals at 1.023, all parameters zero. I have been using reef complete twice a week(2 capfulls at a time.) Lighting is t-5 nova extreme. What could be causing my rock to fade? I have green star polyps and some pink polyps that resemble xenia, and 3 other colonies of various star polyps. Could the coral be soaking up all the nutrients? Could it be that my lighting is too bright?( I had an 80 watt standard fixture over about 100 lbs live rock and never had this problem?) I dosed kalkwasser last time, wanted to try something different this time.

Any ideas or suggestions? Anyone with a similar prob? Anyone got healthy puuuurrrrrple rock? What do you use?

Am considering taking out some snails- don't know what to do???

kospaintball · 01-21-2009, 02:38 AM

how old is your tank... an unstable tank could cause coralline to stop growing and even die off

and what are your params

Mag
PH
Calcium
Nitrate
Nitrite
ammonia?
dkh?

reefer4200 · 01-21-2009, 04:39 AM

I am assuming this is a newer tank....if so it will die off because of the coraline touching air it basically kills it within minutes. Not all of it will die off but it some will before it starts coming back when the tank settles in completely.

miaskies · 01-21-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kospaintball

how old is your tank... an unstable tank could cause coralline to stop growing and even die off

and what are your params

Mag
PH
Calcium
Nitrate
Nitrite
ammonia?
dkh?

I don't know what my calcium or magnesium is, but my ph is 8.2, amm, nit, nitrate all zero. I also did'nt mention that I have about a gazillion baby brine shrimp crawling around in there.My tank is about 8 weeks old. I have a skilter that puts out a lot of micro bubbles in the tank, but i did'nt have this prob last time with the same filter.

BigAl07 · 01-21-2009, 03:02 PM

those "Brine Shrimp" are actually "Pods" and a good sign

01-21-2009, 02:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
miaskies Limpet Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 144 View Gallery Karma Komment	Paling Live Rock? Could Snails Be To Blame???? OK, so I bought about 60 pounds of live rock. When I first bought it It was mostly bright purple. I have noticed that a few of the pieces almost look to be slowly bleaching out. The rock came with a small hermit crab, an astrea snail and about 5-7 snails that have no shell. My tank is a 55 and as far as live rock goes, only about 3 of the large pieces are totally covered in thick, purple algae, but it appears to be fading. The one snail that has a shell has been on the one piece of rock for weeks now, grazing, grazing, grazing. I use reef crystals at 1.023, all parameters zero. I have been using reef complete twice a week(2 capfulls at a time.) Lighting is t-5 nova extreme. What could be causing my rock to fade? I have green star polyps and some pink polyps that resemble xenia, and 3 other colonies of various star polyps. Could the coral be soaking up all the nutrients? Could it be that my lighting is too bright?( I had an 80 watt standard fixture over about 100 lbs live rock and never had this problem?) I dosed kalkwasser last time, wanted to try something different this time. Any ideas or suggestions? Anyone with a similar prob? Anyone got healthy puuuurrrrrple rock? What do you use? Am considering taking out some snails- don't know what to do???

01-21-2009, 02:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
kospaintball Achilles Tang Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 855 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Paling Live Rock? Could Snails Be To Blame???? how old is your tank... an unstable tank could cause coralline to stop growing and even die off and what are your params Mag PH Calcium Nitrate Nitrite ammonia? dkh?

01-21-2009, 04:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
reefer4200 Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: BG, IL Posts: 1,006 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Paling Live Rock? Could Snails Be To Blame???? I am assuming this is a newer tank....if so it will die off because of the coraline touching air it basically kills it within minutes. Not all of it will die off but it some will before it starts coming back when the tank settles in completely.

01-21-2009, 03:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Nerd :) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 24,075 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Paling Live Rock? Could Snails Be To Blame???? those "Brine Shrimp" are actually "Pods" and a good sign __________________ > > > >Read ME < < < < when you're in need of answers or help with your tank. *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!! Big Al's 10g.... BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle.... Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef.... DIY LED Fixture - Allens OFFICE 12g by chipmunkofdoom2

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)