Naeusu

I have a 50 gallon saltwater tank with 3 fish (a sailfin tang, a powder brown tang, and a queen angel) as well as 2 emerald crabs. (I bought the crabs to eat the green algae and so far haven't touched the good pink stuff).

I've tested all my water parameters and even took a sample of tank water to my LFS and had them test my water. I wanted to put corals in my tank but I was advised to wait a little while so that the corraline algae gets a better hold on my live rock. I was also told at the time that because all my levels were so good that I didn't have to buy purple up or reef builder or anything.

However, I took a look at my live rock this morning and the best patch of algae seems to be sloughing off the rock! It almost looks like a piece of purple felt or velvet that's just sitting on it >:X if my levels are in such good shape, why is it all of a sudden dying? there are still patches of pink and purple on my other rocks but this one was growing the algae the best.

carlos413

I am haveing the same issue. I got my live rock from my lfs. Nice and purple as the weeks went by it started to faint. I keep my calcium lvl @ 420- 450 PPM. My pH is 8.2 everything else is @ 0-0-0. I read somewere that you need calcium in your water. get a test kit for calcium to make sure u keep your lvl where they need don't just add it to ur water. My friend told me that often the coral line algae will come off the rocks do to the powerheads. This is good as it will spread the algae all over your tank. This will take time he said. This is what I been told, please if I am wrong correct me. I am a noob my self and I want to do this right.

harpua2002

This tank was just started 2 weeks ago according to your tank info. coralline growth takes time and often it looks worse before it looks better.

On another note, do you have an upgrade planned? Unfortunately, none of your fish are suitable for a 50 gallon tank.

Naeusu

i may have filled out the thing wrong on my profile because I've had the tank about a month now :X (and i can't figure out how to change that...i keep trying to edit it but it just keeps redirecting me) when i got the tank there was no pink algae growing. About 2 weeks ago i got a nice bloom which covered almost an entire piece of rock (which is a very small rock, about twice as long and twice as thick as your thumb) which the top portion seems to have just....molted off...

I looked at the tank this morning and all that nice algae is scattered around the base of the rock >:X

edit --> figured out how to edit now

Oil_Fan

It's normal for the coralline to look like it's fading. It'll eventually darken back up but it may take a couple of months.

Patience is one thing SW tanks really, really need. I know it's tough (it was for me on my first SW tank) but it'll payoff in the end! And honestly, I wouldn't even worry about coralline growing. It'll come back in time as the tank matures.

cerianthus

It could be many reasons for such symptoms. I do know that more stuff including coralline calgae on the LR seems to have problem with shipping during Warmer weather than cooler weather.

MizRamzi

Just found this info on coralline growth. Made me feel better about not having any growth yet.

http://kb.marinedepot.com/article.aspx?id=10274

reefdude

What is your calcium level? The coralline algae will use it on a daily basis to grow. I suggest run a test on it, you may need some Purple Tech to replenish the waters calcium level.