Growing on my live rock suddenly. Help ID

Whystler · 05/04/2013, 06:20 PM

Well suddenly on a side of my live rock that gets a lot of flow i noticed this white almost macroalgae like growth.

That is a very up close picture on my cell phone.

Stats:
55G reef tank(no corals yet)
tank has been up for 4 weeks.

0 amm
0 nitrites
5ppm Nitrates
8.4 ph
400 CA
11 dKH
0.15 Pho

Thats been pretty steady the last 2 weeks. I do a 20% water change every week.I have an aquaclear 110(modded refuge) running purigen and filter floss along with chaeto and ulva lettuce that seems to be doing good. I clean the filter floss out 2x a week. I have had a couple good strong diatom blooms but the cuc cleans it out pretty fast. Been using RO/DI water for the water changes.

I am pretty sure i am going to need to add a skimmer in order to get my Pho and Nitrates under control before i add corals.

What is the white stuff? good or bad?

Anemone · 05/04/2013, 06:23 PM

Sponge.

Harmless, and helps filter the water. Can overgrow corals in certain situations, but will generally thrive in areas of low light, so not usually a problem for the corals we keep.

Kevin

Whystler · 05/04/2013, 06:37 PM

That makes sense I haven't been giving the tank very much light at all.

My light should arrive this week

Will the sudden increase in light cause it to shrink or stop growing?

It is in a good place to filter the water.

DrexelLake · 10/08/2015, 11:04 AM

Just found some of this growing in my tank on the rock in the back shade. Good to know it's okay to keep.

05/04/2013, 06:20 PM	#1
Whystler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 71	Growing on my live rock suddenly. Help ID Well suddenly on a side of my live rock that gets a lot of flow i noticed this white almost macroalgae like growth. That is a very up close picture on my cell phone. Stats: 55G reef tank(no corals yet) tank has been up for 4 weeks. 0 amm 0 nitrites 5ppm Nitrates 8.4 ph 400 CA 11 dKH 0.15 Pho Thats been pretty steady the last 2 weeks. I do a 20% water change every week.I have an aquaclear 110(modded refuge) running purigen and filter floss along with chaeto and ulva lettuce that seems to be doing good. I clean the filter floss out 2x a week. I have had a couple good strong diatom blooms but the cuc cleans it out pretty fast. Been using RO/DI water for the water changes. I am pretty sure i am going to need to add a skimmer in order to get my Pho and Nitrates under control before i add corals. What is the white stuff? good or bad?

05/04/2013, 06:23 PM	#2
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Sponge. Harmless, and helps filter the water. Can overgrow corals in certain situations, but will generally thrive in areas of low light, so not usually a problem for the corals we keep. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

05/04/2013, 06:37 PM	#3
Whystler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 71	That makes sense I haven't been giving the tank very much light at all. My light should arrive this week Will the sudden increase in light cause it to shrink or stop growing? It is in a good place to filter the water.

10/08/2015, 11:04 AM	#4
DrexelLake Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 9	Just found some of this growing in my tank on the rock in the back shade. Good to know it's okay to keep.