live rock turning chalky

mikekr · 01/07/2008, 09:19 PM

I put 80 lbs of live rock in a 55 gal tank two days ago. It looked great then with lots of coraline. Now there are many sections that are turning a chalky white.

The parameters are as expected for a two day old tank, Temp constant at about 80.5, sg at 1.025, pH at 8.04, no ammonia, nitrites at 0.1 and nitrates at 5ppm.

What do you think is wrong and how can I fix this. Thanks for any replies.

Phyxius · 01/07/2008, 09:23 PM

You should be fine. Coraline will do that when exposed to air from being moved to a new tank and etc.
Just keep your levels up and the calcium in check and it will come back. In fact it will be all over your glass, equipment, power heads and etc.
Just give it some time and your good to go.

mikekr · 01/08/2008, 07:25 AM

The lights have been off since the tank started a couple of days ago. Would it help to turn them on for a few hours or would a possible algae bloom offset any benefit to the rocks

The_Browns · 01/08/2008, 08:18 AM

I think while the tank is cycling, lights are not important.

AJ69 · 01/08/2008, 08:37 AM

you should be ok is just part of the cycling process

01/07/2008, 09:19 PM	#1
mikekr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 52	live rock turning chalky I put 80 lbs of live rock in a 55 gal tank two days ago. It looked great then with lots of coraline. Now there are many sections that are turning a chalky white. The parameters are as expected for a two day old tank, Temp constant at about 80.5, sg at 1.025, pH at 8.04, no ammonia, nitrites at 0.1 and nitrates at 5ppm. What do you think is wrong and how can I fix this. Thanks for any replies.

01/07/2008, 09:23 PM	#2
Phyxius Moving About Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: RTP NC Posts: 2,405	You should be fine. Coraline will do that when exposed to air from being moved to a new tank and etc. Just keep your levels up and the calcium in check and it will come back. In fact it will be all over your glass, equipment, power heads and etc. Just give it some time and your good to go. __________________ -Mike I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. W. C. Fields Current Tank Info: JUST SOLD AND TOOK DOWN ALL 11/10---210g AGA, 80g sump, Tunze Streams. Tunze ATO,RK Elite Controller, RKII,Dart, GEO Calcium& Nielsen Kalk Reactors,GEO media reactor, Kaleini Rock, 3-250 watt 14k EVC , VHO..... 34g Solana and 60g cube

01/08/2008, 07:25 AM	#3
mikekr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 52	The lights have been off since the tank started a couple of days ago. Would it help to turn them on for a few hours or would a possible algae bloom offset any benefit to the rocks __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 55 gal mixed reef tank, 10 gal fuge, 17 gal sump, T-5's, mag 9.5, koralia 3 & 4, MSX 160

01/08/2008, 08:18 AM	#4
The_Browns Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 1,046	I think while the tank is cycling, lights are not important. __________________ Mike & Jenn Current Tank Info: 120g DT and 35g frag tank

01/08/2008, 08:37 AM	#5
AJ69 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 2,116	you should be ok is just part of the cycling process __________________ "Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles ..." - Hunter S. Thompson "Better to fight for something than live for nothing" - G. Patton Current Tank Info: rimless cube