Bad live rock

lammy160 · 01/14/2006, 10:05 PM

I used to have really nice live rock (nice color) until I moved a few months ago... After setting up my tank in the new home my rock (about 75lbs of it) turned like a greenish black color.. I lost all the purples and bright coloration it had. The tank has been back together for a few months (everythings healthy) except the rock still looks like crap. A month ago I started checking calcium levels & according to the Sea Test test I purchased it had a calcium level of about 250. I've tried a few things.. B-Inoic (which my fish supplier has had amazing results with) Kalkwasser drips and Turbo calcium from Kent Marine.. I haven't noticed any significant levels of change on my tests.. I tried testing a water sample from the fish supplier recently from one of their best aquariums and this test produced the same results for about 250...? I don't know it seems like a very simple test to do for calcium, but what ever I test, it seems to have the same end number. I understand healthy rock needs a calcium level of 350-400 not quite sure how that can happen without poisoning my tank. I do bi weekly water changes and have decent lighting. All my other levels are in order.I put in about 10 pounds of nicely colored rock hoping the corline would eventually spread, but that diddn't help either. What should I do here? Did I murder my rock for good? Or ???

rdmpe · 01/14/2006, 10:08 PM

Have you had an LFS check your water? Sounds like your CA test kit is no good for one thing.

Craig Lambert · 01/14/2006, 10:18 PM

It could also be that your Magnesium level is low, which will make it very hard to raise your calcium. I would also suggest Salifert test kits.

javajaws · 01/14/2006, 10:59 PM

What is your alkalinity at?

01/14/2006, 10:05 PM	#1
lammy160 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Buffalo Posts: 2	Bad live rock I used to have really nice live rock (nice color) until I moved a few months ago... After setting up my tank in the new home my rock (about 75lbs of it) turned like a greenish black color.. I lost all the purples and bright coloration it had. The tank has been back together for a few months (everythings healthy) except the rock still looks like crap. A month ago I started checking calcium levels & according to the Sea Test test I purchased it had a calcium level of about 250. I've tried a few things.. B-Inoic (which my fish supplier has had amazing results with) Kalkwasser drips and Turbo calcium from Kent Marine.. I haven't noticed any significant levels of change on my tests.. I tried testing a water sample from the fish supplier recently from one of their best aquariums and this test produced the same results for about 250...? I don't know it seems like a very simple test to do for calcium, but what ever I test, it seems to have the same end number. I understand healthy rock needs a calcium level of 350-400 not quite sure how that can happen without poisoning my tank. I do bi weekly water changes and have decent lighting. All my other levels are in order.I put in about 10 pounds of nicely colored rock hoping the corline would eventually spread, but that diddn't help either. What should I do here? Did I murder my rock for good? Or ???

01/14/2006, 10:18 PM	#3
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	It could also be that your Magnesium level is low, which will make it very hard to raise your calcium. I would also suggest Salifert test kits. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

01/14/2006, 10:59 PM	#4
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	What is your alkalinity at? __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled

01/14/2006, 10:08 PM	#2
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	Have you had an LFS check your water? Sounds like your CA test kit is no good for one thing.