Live Rock Bleaching

[miuYH]

Originally Posted by windcoast reefs

I would saw its not so much about the length of time but the intensity of the light. If you can, add some more light.

Is that so?

Because when the rocks first came, there was almost zero Coralline Algae. Then as time progressed, more and more started to develop and grow. It was only until recently where the rocks began to turn white and bleach. So I think what I did was decrease some of the photo period...

So I am unsure as to what might be causing this?

[mrhasan]

I think calcium might be an issue. I am no expert but that light on a 10 gallon seems fair enough (2.5w/gallon + shallow tank). Maybe your should do a water change (if you didn't do it for a significant amount of time) or check the calcium with a kit.

[FishyFishy!]

Yeah constant levels of calcium are very important with healthy coraline growth, as well as intensity of light, not the photo period.

I would get some better lights on there. I have a 7g Fluval Edge Nano with a 150W Metal Halide and LED suppliments... and I have pure purple rocks, with coraline growing over coraline. I also dose calcium into my ATO resevoir.

Do you have any corals in there yet? And have you done a water change since the setup?

[mrhasan]

I have always wondered how can people run metal halides over pico/small nanos. Do you use chiller to keep the water from boiling? Just curiosity

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

Yeah constant levels of calcium are very important with healthy coraline growth, as well as intensity of light, not the photo period.

I would get some better lights on there. I have a 7g Fluval Edge Nano with a 150W Metal Halide and LED suppliments... and I have pure purple rocks, with coraline growing over coraline. I also dose calcium into my ATO resevoir.

Do you have any corals in there yet? And have you done a water change since the setup?

[FishyFishy!]

No chiller, and I have never had a heat issue or swing. Things that may contribute to this:

I have A/C in my house
It has a 15g sump underneath
Fluval Edge has almost a totally enclosed top
The light is 6" above the tank

All of those things put together make for a stable temp.

[mrhasan]

Still 150w sounds like a lot for like 20 gallon of water :| I use 62w T5HO lighting over my 20 gallon long and I feel like like it is responsible for the rapid evaporation.

BTW sorry for hijacking the thread :P

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

No chiller, and I have never had a heat issue or swing. Things that may contribute to this:

I have A/C in my house
It has a 15g sump underneath
Fluval Edge has almost a totally enclosed top
The light is 6" above the tank

All of those things put together make for a stable temp.

[FishyFishy!]

light over tank


And you can see how purple the rock is...


Sorry to hijack the thread too! haha.

But I have definitly found that keeping calcium up with strong light is the key to coraline growth.