New Tank, Live Rock not so Live anymore.

Hi All,

So after spending much time looking through this forum I started my own FOWLR tank last week. I've already got issues and I don't think I should continue my denial or continue listening to the unconfident affirmations from my LFS.

I started the tank on Saturday last week and after getting my salinity and PH right, I ordered live rock on Monday (from florida live rock) and put it in on Tuesday. There was already some die off from the hitchikers (crabs and worms).

By Wednesday morning there were many worms looking very distressed and by Thursday nothing was alive (at least not outside the rocks). This was a shame, but I know it is expected, so this isn't my problem question.

My ammonia spiked very high (again, I'm okay with this) and I blew the chart on my 8PPM max test kit. I had a bacteria cloud on Thursday (yay! I think) and that cleared up on Friday. My LFS told me NOT to do a water change and let the bacteria spawn. He said it won't affect all my wonderful plants I have on my live rock, as they aren't sensitive to Ammonia like fish would be.

In the last two days all the really pretty seaweed and some grape algae has started to look very bad, they almost look like they are disintegrating. The broadleaf macroalgae is starting to yellow and wilt and there are growths that look like spiderwebs appearing all over the rock. If I don't fix whatever is causing their rapid decline, I doubt they will survive the weekend.

The plants on my rocks are really very pretty and I'd hate for them to die. What can I do to save them? If they die, will they ever re-grow?

I've attached some pics of the plants and the "spider webs" and any help would be appreciated.

I have 1.023 salinty, 7.8-8.0 PH (still can't read the tests 100%), 8PPM+ Ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates.

Sorry! I have no idea how I managed to post this in "reef lighting" - my bad, I put a new one in "ASAP". If I knew how to delete this one, I would...

 

hello did your lfs say if the rock was cured already? as die off will go and pass with proper curing. as for the plants most will grow back over time and non predatory fish like tangs nibbling at it.... it is going through a cycle is all the tank is doing as for the ammonia spike. this is natural and apart of the cycle.... halamedia is a callcium eating plant it needs alot of ca to thrive. so plan on doseing from time to time. and this brings me back to the quarntine section you would of wanted to get a tub from wal mart to cure the rock in that will rid all the nasty hitch hikers...

rasie the salinty up to 1.025-026 and don't add anything for about a month or more are you skimming?

 

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, all the hitchikers died (or with the ammonia I'm sure they will soon). The plants just looked so healthy when they arrived, I thought them dying now, must be something wrong with the water. I expected the animal die-off, but it is normal for all the plants to die as well?

What a shame, it seems like there can't be many benefits to getting "live rock" (I got mine from an aquaculture farm in the gulf, overnighted to me) if even the plants growing on the rock die.

 

yeah your rock needed to be cured look up curing live rock there will be die off during the process but it is well worth it in the end.... pretty much how it is now it is and will cure in the tank it will be awhile skim like a mad man but your plants will come back over time thats for sure.