White Dust on my LR w/pictures

loves saltwater · 11/23/2006, 05:39 PM

I have a growth on my LR and it is spreading to others. The rock has been in the tank a few weeks and in the last few day this white stuff has started to grow.Help !

AM- 0
Rite- 0
Rate- 15 (working to get this down with WC)
PH- 8.0
SG- 1.026
Cal- 500
Pho-0

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...r/NewImage.jpg

tobyp · 11/23/2006, 06:05 PM

that looks like hair algea to me im not no expert though

loves saltwater · 11/23/2006, 06:28 PM

This growth is pure white and not hairy at all nor is it stringing.

malintner · 11/23/2006, 06:48 PM

What is your alkalinity? That might be precipitation. Your calcium is a little too high. Your specific gravity is too high.

J. Montgomery · 11/23/2006, 07:14 PM

Specific gravity of natural salt water is 1.026, so thats not too high. Calcium is though, I'd agree with malintner that it may be a precipitate.

loves saltwater · 11/23/2006, 07:35 PM

I don't have a test for Alk...What is precipitate ? How can I lower calcium ?

loves saltwater · 11/23/2006, 08:40 PM

bump

trpigg · 11/23/2006, 09:41 PM

Your LR is dying...That happens sometimes. Alkalinity levels lower calcium but i dont think i would raise that. A couple 20-25% water changes every couple of days should cure the calcium problem. What kind of salt mix do you use???The water changes should also help to raise that ph. My tank is fairly new as well and that had happened to a few of my rocks but things willl get better...just make sure your parem's stay stable.

loves saltwater · 11/23/2006, 09:48 PM

I use instant ocean salt mix....Should I do anything to the rock ? scrub it,clean it,boil it or take it out ? My calcium has been at that level from day one. I have done several water changes and it has not dropped the Cal level.

phishy2 · 11/23/2006, 09:55 PM

looks like dead coraline algae, my powerheads get white like that when the coraline dies off when i take them out and clean them.... good or bad im not sure how it affects water quality, ive never noticed any fluctuations.

ACBlinky · 11/23/2006, 10:19 PM

Your Ca is high, but not excessive. SG is right on IMO. I looked at the picture, don't really see anything wrong -- sometimes purple coralline turns white when LR is put into a new tank, it's nothing to worry about. Being out of water, changes in light and other conditions can affect coralline, but it comes back with time and good water conditions. I see no reason to do another water change at this point. Don't add any calcium supplements, just leave things be and let the tank settle out. Ca will go down on its own once snails, coralline, tube worms etc. begin to use it, or with the addition of buffers to increase alk (get a kit first though).

11/23/2006, 05:39 PM	#1
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	White Dust on my LR w/pictures I have a growth on my LR and it is spreading to others. The rock has been in the tank a few weeks and in the last few day this white stuff has started to grow.Help ! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 15 (working to get this down with WC) PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 500 Pho-0 http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...r/NewImage.jpg __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

11/23/2006, 06:28 PM	#3
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	This growth is pure white and not hairy at all nor is it stringing. __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

11/23/2006, 07:14 PM	#5
J. Montgomery Mouth Pipetting Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 6,278	Specific gravity of natural salt water is 1.026, so thats not too high. Calcium is though, I'd agree with malintner that it may be a precipitate. __________________ Josh

11/23/2006, 07:35 PM	#6
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	I don't have a test for Alk...What is precipitate ? How can I lower calcium ? __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

11/23/2006, 08:40 PM	#7
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	bump __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

11/23/2006, 06:05 PM	#2
tobyp Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lima,Ohio Posts: 99	that looks like hair algea to me im not no expert though

11/23/2006, 06:48 PM	#4
malintner Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 78	What is your alkalinity? That might be precipitation. Your calcium is a little too high. Your specific gravity is too high.

11/23/2006, 09:41 PM	#8
trpigg Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 193	Your LR is dying...That happens sometimes. Alkalinity levels lower calcium but i dont think i would raise that. A couple 20-25% water changes every couple of days should cure the calcium problem. What kind of salt mix do you use???The water changes should also help to raise that ph. My tank is fairly new as well and that had happened to a few of my rocks but things willl get better...just make sure your parem's stay stable. __________________ Reefing is the coolest thing since "sliced bread." Current Tank Info: 72 gal RR bow front, 25 gal sump/refugium, 105lbs Premium tonga deep water LR, 80 lbs LS, 760w metal halide retro lighting

11/23/2006, 09:48 PM	#9
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	I use instant ocean salt mix....Should I do anything to the rock ? scrub it,clean it,boil it or take it out ? My calcium has been at that level from day one. I have done several water changes and it has not dropped the Cal level. __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

11/23/2006, 09:55 PM	#10
phishy2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 190	looks like dead coraline algae, my powerheads get white like that when the coraline dies off when i take them out and clean them.... good or bad im not sure how it affects water quality, ive never noticed any fluctuations. __________________ Phishy Current Tank Info: 37gal, tomato clown, midas blenny, royal gramma, lawnmower blenny, cleanup crew, closed brain, pavona, zoathids, haitian condy, pink birdsnest, 29gal african cichlids, 75gal african cichlids

11/23/2006, 10:19 PM	#11
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Your Ca is high, but not excessive. SG is right on IMO. I looked at the picture, don't really see anything wrong -- sometimes purple coralline turns white when LR is put into a new tank, it's nothing to worry about. Being out of water, changes in light and other conditions can affect coralline, but it comes back with time and good water conditions. I see no reason to do another water change at this point. Don't add any calcium supplements, just leave things be and let the tank settle out. Ca will go down on its own once snails, coralline, tube worms etc. begin to use it, or with the addition of buffers to increase alk (get a kit first though). __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.