It snowed in my tank !!! or what's that white stuff all over ?

Discussion in 'ID This!' started by 71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009.

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  1. 71sbeetle

    71sbeetle Fire Shrimp

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    Just noticed it today, pretty much all the rocks I picked up from my LFS are getting covered in this shiny white stuff .... what is it ?

    [​IMG]
     
    71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009
    71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009
    #1

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  2. mirandacollc

    mirandacollc Flame Angel

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    What is your calcium level? or all the parimeters for that matter most importantly calcium.
     
    mirandacollc, Apr 1, 2009
    mirandacollc, Apr 1, 2009
    #2
  3. slocal

    slocal Doot!

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    mir is right, high levels of calcium can lead to precipitation, but I thought it was more yellowish than anything. Maybe I'm thinking of limewater buildup. What's your iodine levels?

    could also be bleaching coralline algae
     
    slocal, Apr 1, 2009
    slocal, Apr 1, 2009
    #3
  4. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Your shiny white stuff looks like bleached coralline algae. Possibly from being exposed to air in transit. Calcium is a relative question. Alkalinity and magnesium are also related. Were those areas colored with some pinkish or purplish stuff where the white is now?
     
    missionsix, Apr 1, 2009
    missionsix, Apr 1, 2009
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  5. SAW39

    SAW39 Ritteri Anemone

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    +1 what MissionSix said.
     
    SAW39, Apr 1, 2009
    SAW39, Apr 1, 2009
    #5
  6. 71sbeetle

    71sbeetle Fire Shrimp

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    thanks for the replies guys, the rocks actually didn't have any coralline on them before, as for the parameters, I just finished taking them right now:

    Temp: 80.2 according to my cheap digital aquarium thermometer
    Temp: 81 according to my Davis Vantage Pro 2 Temp sensor (only does whole numbers)
    pH: 8.02 (Pinpoint monitor)
    specific gravity: 1.0245 (Pinpoint monitor)
    Nitrite: < 0.3
    Nitrate: 2
    Ammonia: 0
    dKH: 9.5
    Phosphate: 0
    Calcium: 400/420 (2 different brand tests)
    Magnesium: Not Tested
     
    71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009
    71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009
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  7. SAW39

    SAW39 Ritteri Anemone

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    Wait a sec. You said "shiny white stuff"? Does it look slimey and wet? Do you notice it more at night? It may be a sponge.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2009
    SAW39, Apr 1, 2009
    SAW39, Apr 1, 2009
    #7
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  8. 71sbeetle

    71sbeetle Fire Shrimp

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    it's definitely wet being underwater and all :yelrotflm
    it does look slimey a little, and it's been here all day.
    It covers most of the rocks I got from the LFS a few weeks ago, it pretty much popped out of nowhere.
     
    71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009
    71sbeetle, Apr 1, 2009
    #8
  9. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Can you scrape it off?
     
    missionsix, Apr 1, 2009
    missionsix, Apr 1, 2009
    #9
  10. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    I have 2 rocks that I bought that where exactly like that and are still just like the one you posted a pick. its white coralline(bleached or dead), try scraping a little of the rock and you will see.
    A funny thing is I asked a guy about it when I bought it and he said white coralline on the rocks means they where at a deep depth where they were collected.(not sure if this is true or not)
    I have never seen it spread though so I always thought it was dead coralline.
     
    RHorton, Apr 1, 2009
    RHorton, Apr 1, 2009
    #10
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