What is on my live rock

[chrispmcgill]

I am starting my first saltwater aquarium; a 75G tank. I have 25lbs of good live rock that I got from my brother. I also bought 50lbs live rock from another persons aquarium. There is some greenish/black stuff on the 50lbs rocks. I don't *think it is algae. I have got all this rock and am scared to start my tank without knowing if this rock is going to hurt my tank in the long run.

This is what I know about the rock: I talked to the guy I got it from and he was not using RODI water, or doing regular water changes and the TDI levels were high. Also the rock is from Fiji.

Here are the pics:
http://s1172.photobucket.com/albums/r569/chrispmcgill/

I would like to have coral and fish in the tank eventually.

[danil]

The only way to prevent some unwanted things on your live rock - use dry rock. You can 'clean everything' from your live rock by sun drying and then 'cooking' them but whats the point since you already paid for LIVE rock. I would live it there and wait for cycle to finish. Then before doing your aquascaping you can check every piece and take out one you don't like.

Do yourself a favor. Use robber gloves (thick one) to handle live rocks. You can easily cut your hands and get infection.

[Zappo]

All I see in those pics is a few dark patches where it looks like hair or possibly green bubble algae is growing. What's it feel like? If it's algae it'll either be fuzzy or rubbery depending on the type. If that's the case, when it's that small, snails and crabs will make short work of it.

[chrispmcgill]

Originally Posted by Zappo

All I see in those pics is a few dark patches where it looks like hair or possibly green bubble algae is growing. What's it feel like? If it's algae it'll either be fuzzy or rubbery depending on the type. If that's the case, when it's that small, snails and crabs will make short work of it.

thanks for the reply's.

It feels rubbery and is hard to scrape off. My LPS guy told me it went through an anaerobic process and formed sulfates. And it had a lot of detritus.

So I should just let it run a cycle?

[chrispmcgill]

wow stuff falls fast. Any more opinions?

[StephLionfish]

EDIT- Oh, that's bubble algae. Not good stuff, and don't pop it in the tank. That's a whole crap lot of it, too. It's up to you wether or not you want to deal with the stuff.

[Zappo]

Once bubble algae is in the tank, it's probably going to be permanant unless you dry the rocks and start over. A small tang or a few emerald crabs will gladly keep it under control, though. My scopas tang loves the red kind, and the crabs will eat pretty much anything bite-sized on the rocks.

[chrispmcgill]

bubble algae

[chrispmcgill]

I still don't have the tank set up bc I wanted to make sure i find out what was on the rock. The rock is setting by itself in 20G of saltwater running through a cycle. I also have 20lbs of live rock that is in a different 20G of saltwater and this rock has aiptasia. Talk about starting on the wrong foot...did I mention this is my first go at saltwater? I have learned a lot since I purchased the rock from two separate aquariums.

I am at a loss....so what should I do next?

[zigzag1]

Hmmm. I really don't see anything to be that concerned about. Certainly nothing worth 'cooking' the rock over. Not spectacular looking live rock loaded with life, but I've seen much worse. IMO, it's seems nothing that good maintenance, water changes, GFO, GAC, and time won't fix. JMTC & GL!!

[chrispmcgill]

I am sure these guys know 10 time more that I do....but I just dont see bubble algae on the rock. Well at least based on the pics on google image. If it is though, I would want to get rid of it before starting the tank right?

[SushiGirl]

I don't see bubble algae either. Can you make the pics bigger?

[chrispmcgill]

Yes I can and I will take more pics too. I will have them up tonight.

[chrispmcgill]

here are more pics of the rock. You should be able to zoom in by selecting view all sizes on the right hand corner.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7484452...ream/lightbox/

[Kitsune_Gem]

That purple red stuff? It looks like coralline algae, the good kind

[SushiGirl]

It just looks like algae to me. I started with mostly dry rock, and before I added any live my rock turned bright green, then dark green. Not fuzzy or anything, just green. Looked to me just like yours. I still have a few circles of it here and there, but I haven't felt them. You can see some in the background of this pic.



And on the acrylic in the fuge in this one.


I do have to say, now that I just looked at this pic, those spots in the fuge are now hair algae (nothing down there really to eat it). None in the display, but plenty of critters up there to keep that down if that's what it's the base of.


Edit: Here's a better pic.

[hans24hrs]

Looks like algea (green/ dark green) and some coralline (redish purple). The white masses might be some kind of dormant sponge. if so leave the sponges they are great filter feeders. As far as treatment throw in some hermit and emerald crabs. They eat all kinds of junk. Only suggestion is when you are ready to set up display tank, check over for aptasia and if you are planning on any snails in tank put hermits in refugium or give them to someone. The hermits will eat them and tank their shells. Good luck and post some pics when it is set up.

[hans24hrs]

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

It just looks like algae to me. I started with mostly dry rock, and before I added any live my rock turned bright green, then dark green. Not fuzzy or anything, just green. Looked to me just like yours. I still have a few circles of it here and there, but I haven't felt them. You can see some in the background of this pic.



And on the acrylic in the fuge in this one.


I do have to say, now that I just looked at this pic, those spots in the fuge are now hair algae (nothing down there really to eat it). None in the display, but plenty of critters up there to keep that down if that's what it's the base of.


Edit: Here's a better pic.

not sure if I am looking at same picture, but the plants in that picture are a type of macro algea (Caulerpa) and is really really good for your tank

[chrispmcgill]

sushigirl: thanks for the input. I am being too parodied and just need to starting setting up the tank.

Originally Posted by hans24hrs

Looks like algea (green/ dark green) and some coralline (redish purple). The white masses might be some kind of dormant sponge. if so leave the sponges they are great filter feeders. As far as treatment throw in some hermit and emerald crabs. They eat all kinds of junk. Only suggestion is when you are ready to set up display tank, check over for aptasia and if you are planning on any snails in tank put hermits in refugium or give them to someone. The hermits will eat them and tank their shells. Good luck and post some pics when it is set up.

I do not see any aptasia on that set of live rock. However, I do have another 20lbs of live rock that has been infested with it. I plan on using both sets of rock in the display tank. Do you think I should mix the two sets of rock or treat the aptaisa on the 20lbs and then add it to the display tank?

[SushiGirl]

I'm not trying to ID the caulerpa, I know it's in there.

Chrispmcgill, the person who started the thread, is trying to ID the green/black stuff on his rock, and I posted pics of similar green stuff on my rocks and acrylic to see if it looks the same to him or not to try to help him with an ID.

As for caulerpa, it's not really that good for your tank as it can go sexual and release all the bad nutrients back into the water (I lost a tank that way with grape caulerpa), plus it's very invasive. It's only in the fuge because it came in some chaeto & I couldn't get it all out of it. I pull a handful out of my fuge every week now as part of my maintenance routine because it grows so fast. For a while it was choking out my halymenia and my chaeto. At least I'm exporting nutrients when I pull it out LOL.

[SushiGirl]

Chris, treat the rocks with the aiptasia before putting them in, trust me you don't want that headache!

Hermits are a personal preference. After 4 tanks (3 at once previously & one now), I've never had a hermit kill a snail. I make sure they get plenty to eat and have extra shells for them. The mistake most people make is thinking hermits can live without a food source. I did have a cleaner shrimp kill a snail, but that was just strange.

[chrispmcgill]

sushigirl: I think your pics resemble what I have. Is it something I need to be worried about? Or need to fix before I start adding saltwater/sand/live rock?

[chrispmcgill]

so peppermint shrimp for the aiptasia ?

[SushiGirl]

Originally Posted by chrispmcgill

sushigirl: I think your pics resemble what I have. Is it something I need to be worried about? Or need to fix before I start adding saltwater/sand/live rock?

I don't think it's a problem. You're going to go through several algae phases anyway as you cycle and your tank matures for the first year or more.

I wouldn't put the rock with the aiptasia on it into your display without treating it first. If you wait until you can put peppermints in there, they'll have plenty of time to spread like crazy & the peps can be hit or miss.

I'd take each rock & burn the aiptasia with a lighter, then rinse it in saltwater very well & put it back in the tank. Once you get everything set up, it'll be a lot harder to get rid of. You can also chip off the rock just under the aiptasia if it's not hiding in a hole. Of course, if it's hiding in a hole, it'll be hard to burn off, too.

[chrispmcgill]

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

I don't think it's a problem. You're going to go through several algae phases anyway as you cycle and your tank matures for the first year or more.

I wouldn't put the rock with the aiptasia on it into your display without treating it first. If you wait until you can put peppermints in there, they'll have plenty of time to spread like crazy & the peps can be hit or miss.

I'd take each rock & burn the aiptasia with a lighter, then rinse it in saltwater very well & put it back in the tank. Once you get everything set up, it'll be a lot harder to get rid of. You can also chip off the rock just under the aiptasia if it's not hiding in a hole. Of course, if it's hiding in a hole, it'll be hard to burn off, too.

That's what I will do then. I will burn the aiptasia off with a lighter, wash the add to display. Thanks everyone for their input.