White crust on liverock?

[Dan T]

This is my first tank and I would like some guidance please. The tank has had liverock in it for two weeks and there appears to be a white crust forming on the liverock. It looks almost like a white coating of super thin concrete on some areas of the rock.

Is this anything to be concerned about?

Thanks,
Dan

Current Water Readings:
SG = 1.024
Temp = 80
Ammonia = 0 (Instant Ocean test kit) <0.25 (Red Sea test kit)
Nitrite = Undetectable
Nitrate = Undetectable
pH = 8.0

Key Dates:
3/13/08 Liverock arrived and curing process started in garbage cans. Airstones, powerheads, and heater. Regular water changes to preserve life.
3/28/08 Sand added to display, liverock moved to display, new water.
4/05/08 Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate down to zero. Added one hermit and one cleaner shrimp.
4/08/08 Light installed on display and some feeder seaweed on a clip was used to feed hungry hermit.
4/10/08 Used turkey baster to blast off layer settling or forming on rocks. Noticed that portions of the rock are becoming encrusted in white layer.

March 2008 - My first tank
• AquaVim 130Gal Ocean View seamless-bow reef tank and stand
• AquaVim sump with protein skimmer (rate 390gph), Oceanrunner 6500 return pump (rated at 1700gph, reduced to feed reactor and UV)
• Three Koralia #4 water circulation pumps (rated at 1200gph each), Jager 200W heaters, and a PhosBan Reactor (not in use).
• 120# Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand – 90# of Tongan Lalo Liverock - Pure-Flo II RO unit and Reef Crystals Salt
• AquaVim MH 38" reef lighting system, 578w (2x250w MH + 2x39w T5HO) and UV Sterilizer (not in use).
• Refractometer from Drs Foster and Smith, Instant Ocean master test kit, and pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kits.

Pictures

[D to the P]

it's probably some of the coraline algae dying off. check your calcium and maybe get some purple up or something like that. I wouldn't be too worried about it though. It'll come back eventually.

[Dan T]

Thanks. I will pick-up a calcium test kit tomorrow.

- Dan

[jallen100]

When I set my tank up all the coraline that was on my Durso from the previous owner turned from purple to white and looked the same way. It enventually flaked off.