Live Rock advise required

[kevhowell]

Hi I am looking for some advice on live rock
I purchased 60kg some 10 months ago since then I have been unable to keep any fish or corals a live for more than a few days to weeks the test kit parameters have all been good to perfect, only used RO water and a good salt, I have done two complete water changes including the substrate, if I was to introduce any algae that also would die within a few weeks, I was told by the local aquatic outlet that the live rock was contaminated, I remembered when I bought the rock that two pieces had a blue interior I thought this was cool, the local aquatic shop said this could be the problem I have added a picture for you to see what I mean does anybody know somebody that can tell me what the blue interior could this be or is it some sort of copper, the only fish that has survived the last six months is a black molly

[philosophile]

I don't know what is making your rocks blue like that, but that certainly isn't normal in my experience. The rock also looks pretty dirty. Did you ever cure the rock seprately before adding livestock?

Please post actual parameters, and twll us more about your system. Gallins, salinity, lighting, temp, etc

[Ron Reefman]

The algae on the LR seems to be doing OK? I have no idea what the blue stuff could be. But it looks like corals may have encrusted over it?

[kevhowell]

Thanks for your replies
To answer a couple of posts
The live rock was allowed to cure and cycle before any fish was added.
Second I dont think it's live rock but a skeleton of a dead coral and the blue is inside all of it, the algae you can see is nuisance algae the only type that would grow in the tank

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by kevhowell

Thanks for your replies
To answer a couple of posts
The live rock was allowed to cure and cycle before any fish was added.
Second I dont think it's live rock but a skeleton of a dead coral and the blue is inside all of it, the algae you can see is nuisance algae the only type that would grow in the tank

I also have some Lr that is the skeleton of dead coral and they are definitely not blue, mine is white at the places that seem to have been broken off sections.

[Agioniko]

Maybe a blue sponge that died, but usually sponges turn white when they die. I wouldn't use it. Better safe than sorry

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by Agioniko

Maybe a blue sponge that died, but usually sponges turn white when they die. I wouldn't use it. Better safe than sorry

Ya usually sponges turn white or clear when dead and they dissolve or get eaten. The blue on the rock looks like its been coloured almost. Where did you get the live rock from??

[kevhowell]

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

Ya usually sponges turn white or clear when dead and they dissolve or get eaten. The blue on the rock looks like its been coloured almost. Where did you get the live rock from??

The live rock was purchased from a reputable outlet I believe the rock to be Indonesian
One of the pieces was broken open to show the colour inside better, I will try and take another picture to show the inside better if that helps

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by kevhowell

The live rock was purchased from a reputable outlet I believe the rock to be Indonesian
One of the pieces was broken open to show the colour inside better, I will try and take another picture to show the inside better if that helps

Is all the rock you bought from this place the same color blue?

To be honest I have never seen anything like it. I actually think the color is pretty appealing but I don't know if its related at all for what your experiencing with the loss of life in your tank. I know for sure that dead SPS and coral turns all white inside and out when its dead. Even the inside of SPS and hard coral when alive is white on the inside so I'm not sure what to make of this blueish color.

[kevhowell]

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

Is all the rock you bought from this place the same color blue?

To be honest I have never seen anything like it. I actually think the color is pretty appealing but I don't know if its related at all for what your experiencing with the loss of life in your tank. I know for sure that dead SPS and coral turns all white inside and out when its dead. Even the inside of SPS and hard coral when alive is white on the inside so I'm not sure what to make of this blueish color.

It was all bought at the same time in bulk 60kg I thought at the time it looked a very cool piece of live rock LOL
Its all gone in the bin busy cleaning the tank for a new lot

[SushiGirl]

Originally Posted by kevhowell

Second I dont think it's live rock but a skeleton of a dead coral and the blue is inside all of it

Yep. Blue ridge coral. The skeleton remains blue even after the coral is dead. That in itself is not harmful, so you need to look elsewhere for your problem.

How did you cycle?

[sjnovakovich]

If you can't keep anything alive, I would get rid of the rock and just start everything over.

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Yep. Blue ridge coral. The skeleton remains blue even after the coral is dead. That in itself is not harmful, so you need to look elsewhere for your problem.

How did you cycle?

I stand corrected, apparently your coral is normal if its blue inside.

[kevhowell]

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Yep. Blue ridge coral. The skeleton remains blue even after the coral is dead. That in itself is not harmful, so you need to look elsewhere for your problem.

How did you cycle?

I don’t think it’s a blue Ridge Coral I have done some research it has a blue exoskeleton this is endoskeleton I could be wrong, I have taken this Quote from an internet site

The Blue Ridge Coral, sometimes referred to as the Blue Coral, is often mistaken for a small polyp stony (SPS) coral because it has a hard blue exoskeleton with long, thin polyps. It really is an octocoral (soft coral)

[SushiGirl]

My information was based on someone I know who had one that died, they kept the skeleton for years, and when putting it in a later tank broke it and saw that it was blue inside.

http://www.freshmarine.com/blue-ridge-coral.html
http://animal-world.com/Aquarium-Coral-Reefs/Blue-Coral
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/208360/product.web
http://www.thefishguy.org/blricohco.html
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/17588/product.web

[Muskrat]

Have you tested for any heavy metals like copper, etc.?

[kevhowell]

it looks like you might be right

[SushiGirl]

Muskrat, that was my first guess, but fish would be fine with copper, however the live rock would not be, which would affect the fish. That's why I asked how the tank was cycled. Water parameters would be very helpful.

[kevhowell]

I have ever test kit on the market trying to find the problem all came back ok with no problems
The tank was cycled for 4 weeks after the Live rock was added first time round, after the total water changes it was left for 10 weeks
I have only put damsels in the tank also one black molly that is still alive after six months now in a friends tank

[SushiGirl]

Did you keep feeding the tank during those 10 weeks to keep the bacteria alive?

[kevhowell]

Yes every twice a week

[SushiGirl]

I know you said you have every test kit, but you didn't say if you tested for copper or not.

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by kevhowell

Yes every twice a week

What kinds are fish have died and how big is your tank?

Can you post some pics of the tank + sump?

[kevhowell]

Tested for copper nil
tank size 5 x 2 x 2.6 with a sump ( refugium type) I have only put damsels in the tank apart from one black molly

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by kevhowell

Tested for copper nil
tank size 5 x 2 x 2.6 with a sump ( refugium type) I have only put damsels in the tank apart from one black molly

Are they dead because you can see them floating or dead because they are missing?

You could have a crab thats turning them into dinner when the light go out?