Stains/Algae on rock from ESV Dosing?

Hey all -

I've been bringing my calcium up with B-Ionic lately and my alk/calcium numbers after a week are almost right on the money now. I will let it sit for a few days, test again and determine what amount to dose from here on.

My question:

While I've been spiking the punch with heavier than normal dosing, I've noticed my rocks changing colors a lot, anyone else get this? FYI - I dose near sump pump.

I imagine when I start up kalk again and normal ESV dosing (stopped during heavy dosing of ESV) that this will sort out, but right now my rocks are a rainbow of colors from light green to gray.

 

I believe those are types of coralline algae that are being energized by the additional calcium and carbonate. You should not lose the colors if it does not get covered with algae or dies off.

 

Interesting. There were nice blues and whites from the kalk - but these colors are a bit darker. Has to be related to the stronger than usual dosing of ESV I'd think. I am not too worried though, I think with it balancing out and normal dosing and kalk it should be fine. Just curious if anyone else noticed this as well.

Might be related to the shallowness of my tank too. Having a tank less than 12" deep (water surface to sand) is proving to be pretty challenging with halide.

 

It maybe, but I have rock that had the colors in some place, most were pastel, and with increased calcium and carbonate in the water the colors strengthened a wee bit and starting showing up in other areas that were just white. A very nice surprise.

 

Cool. I'll follow up with a reports down the road. Thanks bud.

 

Hmm never had that happen so I'm no help. But rainbow rocks sound pretty cool

 

Yeah it is ok. It is mostly on a rock near my powerhead.

Giving this some more thought...

I really believe this is all from me stopping my kalk reactor while I did big doses of ESV over the last week.

I now have just under 12.6 dkh and 450ppm calcium which has me fired up - but my pH dropped to 8.1 from 8.4. I think this was from me stopping the kalk.

I also think the lower pH and no kalk has caused the undesirable algaes in my tank to gain ground. Particularly the red cyano.

But after my tests today, I have decided to resume with the kalk in my reactor ATO setup as I don't need to do heavy cups of ESV anymore.

That is my conclusion anyway - seems pretty tight to me - I am pretty psyched to be dialing this in.

matt