bleached rock

[kydsexy]

Ok so I woke up this morning only to stare at one of my beautiful Florida LR pieces starting to bleach and the then all the plants, macroalgae and sponges/filter feeders are showing the same signs of bleaching! I added a cleanup crew to that area yesterday. Could that be it? 1 Sand Sifting star, 2 Nassarius snails, 3 more blue legged hermits. All three are doing fine for the time being> It seems like the coralline is bleaching, what can I do? It was just fine before the cleanup was added.

ps i know the sand sifter is a bad idea, he'll be going back soon. Just wanted him to stir it up some.

HOw many nassarius snails can I add comfortably to a 20 long?

All of my water parameters are in order. I havent checked phosphorous levels or calcium levels yet. I will today. thanks.

 

[ihopss]

How long has this tank been up, what lights or you using,and water where or you getting it.

 

[pcardone]

I don't think the cleaners are the problem. Check your water parameters. Sometimes that will happen if you do a water change and some unmixed salt lands on your rock or coral.

 

[kydsexy]

The tank has been up for over a month without any problem. I was using tapwater, and it was fine, but ive switched to distilled since the first water change. Any suggestions. The spaghetti worms are also dying/dead on the rock. The plants covered in coralline arent looking too good, but there are still some signs of lifte.

 

[ihopss]

In my experience coralline algae will receed some from one light to another,and tank. When you do a water change turn your lights off, that well help some.Let your tank balance out a few more months.As far as snails go that would depend on how dirty your tank is,i would add a few at a time,it is all about balance,once you get a feeding program don't change.

 

[reefman225gal]

florida LR? you must be down with eric borneman :lol:

 

[reefman225gal]

Ijust want to know were in the hell did you get the florida LR?

 

[Anonymous]

Ijust want to know were in the hell did you get the florida LR?

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, and to answer the original poster;s question, what is the water testing at for nitrites, etc?

 

[kydsexy]

Im in CT so I shop at Magic Pet Shop in Wethersfield. They get Florida LR every week so I pick up a few pieces here and there, its beatiful rock! Shout out to Magic Pet! I'll have my water tested again today, but it's been at 0 using the strips. I'll have it tested at my other LFS Aquarium Conservation in Cromwell, Shout out to Jim. He's a SW genius, over $1 million of equipment and fish and he runs the store alone. But I'll test it and get back to you.

 

[SnowManSnow]

if it is as new tank you can expect some die off from your LR

B

 

[kydsexy]

its new, but not that new, im pretty sure that with proper maintenance, all the life in the tank should continue to prosper. What I actually think is happening is that it's just being outcompeted inthe tank, because it only started dying a few days ago and there are already new organisms growing over it. My main coralline piece is still unaffected. I actually just checked my nitrites and theyre around .5 so its time for a water change.

 

[mr_X]

i wouldn't worry too much about the coralline bleaching. to concur with above postings, a tank that's been up over a month is most certainly a new tank, and the rock, and it's inhabitants will go through changes/die off and such.
my current reeftank has been up about 7 months or so, and it's still a new tank.

also, on the nitrite comment- it might be good to get into the habit of doing scheduled water changes, BEFORE your parameters show that you "need" a water change. that might lessen the stress on everything in your tank. believe me, it's not a waste of time. :wink: