White coraline

[beareef19]

Today I noticed some of my coraline algae that is on my glass is turning white and flaking off. I've checked all my peramiters and everything is where it should be, have'nt done anything different or added anything different to the tank. Any suggestions on what might be going on ? TIA Barry

[matt]

It's bleaching and dying. No biggie, happens occasionally. More stuff will grow in its place. Usually it's an indication that something has happened, Ca/alk fluctuation, some ammonia, maybe loss of light or big increase in light, not sure.

[beareef19]

Anybody else ever have this happen? What did you notice different in your tank when it happened?

[Instar]

Coraline algae has a natural cycle. Periodically it sheds and becomes motile in the water column. That is part of its natural life cycle. Often we don't notice because there are so many colonies in so many places that are at different stages of the cycle and it doesn't all come off. That white colony will produce many new colonies in your tank. Of course it can also be from an event, like matt said.

[GaryP]

The coralline algae in my overflow tubes turns white when my wife decides to clean them with tap water while I'm out of town, but I think that might be caused by something else. Can you say "hypotonic shock" boys and girls?

Gary