Live Rock looking like the Alps

So as the title says, my live rock is starting to look like the alps. This is in my new 120 setup so its still going through the walks of life with cycling, but I just want to make sure it is in fact still on the right path. (finally got a camera that took decent pictures x.x)

I currently have 5 inhabitants, two choco-stars, 2 bar gobies, 1 fire fish, and 1 camelback shrimp. I had hoped they wouldn't be too hard on the bio-load since I have been gradually adding bottles (a bottle every 2 weeks as lfs inventory and my paycheck will allow) of Bio-Spira which I have only put in 3 bottles so far.

In the first picture is one of my stars on one rock which I believe has detritus on it, mmk still cycling, I expected to see some at the very least, but in picture #2 (with my cute FF) that rock originally was COVERED! But now... its almost like a bleached calcium white with very little on it...

I put this in ID-This since I wasn't sure what the white was if it was good or bad, just to clarify .-. my first guess is that it was the bacteria populating and eating the funk since now, there is almost none. That rock in particular has a powerhead to the right of it pointing right above it, so I cut out the possibility of there being not enough flow in that particular spot. But just checking in I guess :/

#1-


#2-

 

The first image looks like the normal a diatom bloom that you see with new tanks/equipment. The second image looks like perhaps a starfish or other invert has just cleaned off the diatoms and algae. White might just be the remains of coralline algae or a white version of coralline.

 

It appears that what was on the rock was algae so i would not be worried about it turning white. How long has your tank been cycling? Are you checking your parameters? That is a very light bioload so i would not worry about that as long as the tank has cycled appropriately. You may have problems with your star however as they frequently starve to death after a few months.

 

Thanks so much! Based on how others have LR that is purple or a good greenish I was worried turning white was bad, but as long as it is what I thought it was. Also to Dienerman, yes I have been keeping track. It has been slow but the parameters have been dropping (very slowly every week) but still dropping. It has been cycling for almost 2 months. I connected my plumbing together and put in my skimmer, just to make sure there wasn't too much waste in the water and cause a horrible ammonia spike. I am still tinkering with the skimmer, but everything is doing well. Although one minute while tinkering with the skimmer, it went DEAD SILENT. I mean drop a pin and hear it bounce HALLELUJAH silent. It was working beautifully and still skimming, then I unplugged it adding in bio-spira, and then replugging it in, normal mechanical humm again. I have no idea what I did prior that made it so blissfully silent, but I wish I did lol.

 

Probably something to do the magnetic drive in the pump. I have a jebao that needs a good hit in order for it to stop humming. Idk just my 2 cents.

Edit: PLEASE DON'T HIT YOUR SKIMMER PUMP! I was just using what I did as an example

 

DW ^^ I didn't hit it, in fact when it happened I was holding the cone, when it went silent. if i have a chance Ill see if putting like foam or something under will help with like vibrations. since the silly thing doesnt even sit right to begin with. It's an SCA - 303 and while the pump is on its little suction cup stand it came with, the cone/house doesnt sit flush on the bottom. But seeing as how my return pump is a little Aqueon, and is quieter, I know something isnt quite right. But its still skimming so I am not going to touch it. yet that is :

 

You could make a skimmer stand for it using egg crate. Supposedly it helps dampens the noise

 

Like cardboardish egg crate or the styrofoam like stuff that you see commonly (I hope I am thinking the right thing here XD)

 

Black Egg Crate for Aquariums - Bulk Reef Supply



This is what you want

 

They also sell that at lowes and home depot in white. It is with the ceiling tiles. not sure which is the cheaper route