Black on my coral?Help??

I am cycling so my lights are off. I turn my lights on fore feeding my Damsel and check things over.

I have a coral wich right now looks like a mat of some sort, People on here seems to think that its eather a star polyps or tunicates. It won't open yet.
Everyday I pick up the rock that the coral is on and blow the brown slime off of it with the power head(I have brown slime all over right now) and noticed black spot all over it.

Does it need the actinic light on or is it sick or what is it?

Helpppppp? Thanks

 

First, why do you the coral in the tank when you are cycling? That along can kill corals. Second, if it's a coral, it needs light. (Except for a few). I would start by turning the lights on and having a normal photo period. I did that and don't really get why people leave the lights off. That's also one reason why it's not coming out. The brown slime sounds like Cynobacteria. That's probably a consequence of the cycle. Do you have any pictures of the coral?

 

I'm hoping this coral popped up on a piece of live rock and wasn't placed in the tank?

 

yep that coral was on my cured lived rock. I know I need to wait after cycle but that a hitchiker and was hoping to save it if I can.
So you are saying I should turn my lights on?
Here's the picture you can't see the black on it with the camera and it's been 2 weeks it won't open could it be lack of lighthing?

 

Also all my parameters are good already that kind of quick is'nt?
ph 8.2 the rest is at 0 and temp is 79.

 

Sounds ok, what are your cal, kh, and mag readings?

 

Don't have a reef test yet I did not know that I would have a coral so soon

What about the lights should i turn them on and what do you think about the cycle beeing so short

 

I say lights on, at least for 6-8 hours a day.

Here is my mini essay;
There are some who would tell you that once "the numbers" are all good the cycle is over and you are ready to go, I am not one of those. What many beginner (even some advanced) aquarium keepers are not (fully) aware of is that the full cycle takes at least 6-8 months. The reason being, mainly, is this is the time required to fully cultivate a total beneficial bacterial base and achieve a saturation of such. Also, allowing the tank to "season" and go through the inevitable mini-cycles and diatom blooms and get fully established is the key to a healthy and stable tank in the future. After you have added one or two fish, let the tank get established by light feeding and going through a moderate light cycle (6-8 hours) for the next 3 weeks. After that, add a few clean up critters (crabs and/or snails) and allow the tank to "catch up" to the added load (you may at this time add some live bacteria to help in this process) and give it another 2 weeks doing all your tests on a regular (weekly) basis and determine if the tank is stable.
Too many don't exercise the proper patience and discipline at this early stage of getting their tank going only to have problems and head aches down the road. Once the tank has gone through the initial phase of the cycle period and the tank is stable, (about 2 mos.) then and only then, should you do your first water change. I always employed a
bit of advice I got when I was starting out to add bacteria after each water change for the first and subsequent next 4-5 changes. After the first water change then and only then add to the tank and minimally at that. Another good tactic I learned is to add (whatever you are adding) a couple days after a water change. This gives the new creature fresh minerals and trace elements and a good 3-4 weeks (I adhere to 4-5 week
intervals between changes) to adjust to the new water parameters, light, temp etc. before disrupting the tank for the next water change.

 

So what's wrong with my coral?

 

Wow, unlcejed wrote up all that and is being as helpful as he can be and all you say is "So whats wrong with my coral"? Thats cold!