Good, bad or meh? (Rock "Frosting")

[48hughey]

My tank is just starting. 29g AIO, 20lbs pukani dry rock (cooked/cured for 6 weeks), then added to display tank with sand to finish cycle. About a week and a half ago, parameters indicated cycle was complete, so I added a cleanup crew. No fish, no coral yet. Currently experiencing a diatom bloom.

Lately, I have been noticing some extremely clean areas of rock (so I thought), and I was giving credit to my "amazing" clean up crew.

Today, I looked at it closer and it appears to be growth on the rock. Almost looks like bright white paint or frosting. It does not wipe or easily scrape off:







Any thoughts?

1.025 sg
0 ppm Ammonia
0 ppm Nitrites
10 ppm Nitrates
0 ppm Phosphates
8 dKh
300 ppm Calcium



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[Tripod1404]

When it encrusts and you are doubt, always say it's a sponge!!!


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[Ron Reefman]

I'd say it's an encrusting sponge as well.

I'd let it go for now, usually sponges are a good thing. But this one being so aggressive in a new tank is a bit of a concern. My guess is that as your tank cycles and matures some over the next 2 to 3 months this sponge may go away on it's own.

[Cliving1]

Yes just keep an eye. As Ron mentioned this one seems quite aggressive. I have one in my tank that within a few weeks took out a gsp frag...not that it bothered me that much.

[AlSimmons]

Can you remove it with your fingernail at all? Being that you used all dry rock I don't think it's a sponge. Stranger things have happened though I guess. It almost looks like patches of dead Coralline algae and your CUC has in fact done a good job of cleaning the rocks for you.

[48hughey]

No. It won't scratch off. Whatever it is, it is attached very well. There was never any color. Would the coralline almost simultaneously grow/die without ever showing a pigment?


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[48hughey]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I'd say it's an encrusting sponge as well.

I'd let it go for now, usually sponges are a good thing. But this one being so aggressive in a new tank is a bit of a concern. My guess is that as your tank cycles and matures some over the next 2 to 3 months this sponge may go away on it's own.

If it does not clear up on its own, what would the remedy be? Or would anything even need to be done?


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[48hughey]

Originally Posted by Cliving1

As Ron mentioned this one seems quite aggressive.

It is not just in one spot. It is on every rock (at least in patches) and is present in areas of the rock I rarely see the CUC hanging around.

Does that change any opinions?



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[JWClark]

So the question is: has this stuff just appeared and is spreading or you are just noticing it more now because it is cleaner?

It looks like dead coralline from the rock's past life to me. With the smoother surface it is possible that it is less conducive to your current algae growth--or the CUC does a better job of polishing it. As a result, it is more noticeable by you now.

[48hughey]

Originally Posted by JWClark

So the question is: has this stuff just appeared and is spreading or you are just noticing it more now because it is cleaner?

That's a great question.

When I got the rocks, I took a brush and tweezers to them to remove the dead organics before I started soaking them. I don't recall seeing anything with this texture at that time. However, I was not really sure what I was looking for outside of obvious dead sponges and the like. I suppose it is possible this is not anything new.



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[JWClark]

Keep a close eye on it and see if it is spreading. I'd be willing to be that it is just dead coralline algae. You wouldn't really notice when picking organics pre-soak. I wouldn't anyway.

I, personally, would not worry about it.

[48hughey]

Thanks, everybody. Always helpful insight.


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