llebcire
03/22/2009, 11:47 PM
More of an observation/conversation thread than troubleshooting.
As the title says, I have some corals that have gone pale on me, others are just fine.
Set this tank up March 5th with new mix (actually the new Reef Crystals) only keeping 10 gallons of old water (old RC), new 4x54w T5's (came from 14g Biocube w/48w PC which explains the 10g). Everything looked great with better coloration, didn't acclimate to the new lights and kept the old lighting schedule.
I had an algae outbreak that several people informed me (here on Reef Central) was bryopsis - popular cure for bryopsis is heavily dosing Tech M. There is a theory that the elevated magnesium levels don't kill the algae but rather some byproduct in the Tech M.
Could be:
1. The brand new formulation of Reef Crystals (had older product - takes a while to kill a 160g bucket with a Biocube!)
2. The overwhelming volume of new water and light bioload (2 clowns) that is low in nutrients
3. New intense lighting without acclimation - 48w PC ->216w T5 HO
4. Coincidence
5. Tech M overdose
I don't remember reading that people have lost corals with Tech M, but they are sometimes irritated.
Algae in question has changed form dark green to pale green, clowns/snails wouldn't touch it before and now where they've eaten it hasn't really returned.
I'm not overly concerned at this point, haven't done water changes but have cut lighting times. I realize that it can take time for corals to show stress from new mix and lighting so I'm waiting.
Rainbow frogspawn is loving life, red monti cap is fine, blue/green tree leather fine, cabbage fine, palys fine, GSP fine, shrooms fine, bam-bams fine, fish, snails, crabs, bristles all healthy.
Corals of concern have great extension, look healthy and show growth.
I dosed an entire 16 oz. bottle of Tech M over 24 hours (+/- 65g volume) on the 16th - pics from the 19th (and earlier for comparison). Elos test kit didn't show a change in Mg levels (thinking bad kit).
Can't get decent pics of the green monti caps - showing growth but have turned a very pale green color.
Armor of Gods:
8th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-08-2009/IMG_7570.jpg
11th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-11-2009/IMG_7677.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_8010.jpg
Other Zoas (specifically with orange skirts)
9th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-09-2009/IMG_7633.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_8006.jpg
As the title says, I have some corals that have gone pale on me, others are just fine.
Set this tank up March 5th with new mix (actually the new Reef Crystals) only keeping 10 gallons of old water (old RC), new 4x54w T5's (came from 14g Biocube w/48w PC which explains the 10g). Everything looked great with better coloration, didn't acclimate to the new lights and kept the old lighting schedule.
I had an algae outbreak that several people informed me (here on Reef Central) was bryopsis - popular cure for bryopsis is heavily dosing Tech M. There is a theory that the elevated magnesium levels don't kill the algae but rather some byproduct in the Tech M.
Could be:
1. The brand new formulation of Reef Crystals (had older product - takes a while to kill a 160g bucket with a Biocube!)
2. The overwhelming volume of new water and light bioload (2 clowns) that is low in nutrients
3. New intense lighting without acclimation - 48w PC ->216w T5 HO
4. Coincidence
5. Tech M overdose
I don't remember reading that people have lost corals with Tech M, but they are sometimes irritated.
Algae in question has changed form dark green to pale green, clowns/snails wouldn't touch it before and now where they've eaten it hasn't really returned.
I'm not overly concerned at this point, haven't done water changes but have cut lighting times. I realize that it can take time for corals to show stress from new mix and lighting so I'm waiting.
Rainbow frogspawn is loving life, red monti cap is fine, blue/green tree leather fine, cabbage fine, palys fine, GSP fine, shrooms fine, bam-bams fine, fish, snails, crabs, bristles all healthy.
Corals of concern have great extension, look healthy and show growth.
I dosed an entire 16 oz. bottle of Tech M over 24 hours (+/- 65g volume) on the 16th - pics from the 19th (and earlier for comparison). Elos test kit didn't show a change in Mg levels (thinking bad kit).
Can't get decent pics of the green monti caps - showing growth but have turned a very pale green color.
Armor of Gods:
8th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-08-2009/IMG_7570.jpg
11th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-11-2009/IMG_7677.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_8010.jpg
Other Zoas (specifically with orange skirts)
9th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-09-2009/IMG_7633.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_8006.jpg