I got 20lbs of fiji premium cured live rock. After adding them to my new tank i noticed some dying of the red/green little rocks in it... I know the dying is normal, but is there a way to recover the green/ red color asap?.. Like adding chemicals, lighting (best lighting)..
2007-11-02 17:09:29 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
That tank has been cycled with live sand and cheap live rocks for about 4 months.. Parameters are normal
2007-11-02 17:10:17 · update #1
Do you know the pH of your tank? In saltwater, it should be above 8.0 (preferably 8.2-8.4). If it's too low, that may be what's causing the die-off. The higher pH is a result of higher alkalinity, which usually means a higher calcium content in the water - the hard coralline algae on the rock uses the clacium to make new growth. If your pH is to low, look into getting kalkwasser to raise it to where it needs to be. The kaukwasser raises the calcium as well.
It may still be too early to tell if the die-off is recovering from the ammonia and nitrite produced from when the tank was cycling, but the pH is something you can check now.
You say you have red and green "rocks" on your live rock? These may be bubble algae. See if they look like these: http://www.reeftips.com/billeder/corals/bubble_algae.jpg , http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/forum/upload/hg_3.jpg , http://photos.imageevent.com/robroy/myfish/websize/red%20algae.jpg If you have an emerald crab (or a red mithrax crab) or urchins, they may be eating these.
You'll jet the best growth of the organisms on your live rock if you have at least compact fluorescent or T-5 lighting. If you have a deep tank (55 gallon or larger) you may need to have these with a metal halide by itself or in combination with the above lighting systems. The standard fluorescent lighting system that comes with aquarium hoods is fine for fish or non-photosynthetic invertebrates, but it you want anything that uses photosynthesis (algaes, corals, anemones, clams) to do well, you'll need better lighting. See this for info on aquarium lighting systems: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html
If these don't seem to be what you have, could you post a photo of your algae?
2007-11-02 18:00:19 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are experiencing anothre cycle since your cured rock wasn't completely cured. The coraline you are talking about will come back in time. Watch your ammonia and nitrate levels while this cycle happens. If you don't need bright lights (eg if you don't have coral) you may want to lower them or just use actinics and keep skimming aggressively.
2007-11-04 11:36:46 · answer #2 · answered by John T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the coraline algae will grow back with enough light. sunlight or your tank hood's lighting. i wouldnt recommend adding chemicals. its really best to do things more naturally. but i do sometimes use chemicals. not much though.
2007-11-03 00:17:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
PURPLE UP
2007-11-03 01:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by jvwatson4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋