Weird stuff on live rock...
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This happened to me once when a piece of coraline covered LR wasn't exposed to enough light (ie... too dark of an area). When I put it under some more direct & nondirect lighting, it stopped the coraline from flaking off (ie.. forming a white film and sloughing off layer by layer)..
Is it the LR.. or the coraline algae ON the LR that has the film?
Is it the LR.. or the coraline algae ON the LR that has the film?
What are you apologizing for? I had a feeling it was the coraline algae you were referring too.
I started with a 10g nanoreef too.
Yes.. keeping the lights out will keep the nuisance algae at bay, but you may sacrifice some of the established coraline on your rock. If you want it, you'll have to turn on a light source (BUT.. this is NOT necessary.. read on). By properly maintaining and establishing a balanced system, you'll be surprised at how the coraline comes back.
Your live rock will stay "LIVE" in your system regardless. Coraline will begin growing in the tank after is it more established.
I kept my lights on and had a large diatom bloom happen (brown algae LOOKING stuff).. all new tanks go through this. This is when reef cleaners are helpful, like crabs, snails and such. I have not read the sticky (now it is I who should be apologizing
) But the coraline with the film isn't going to hurt anything. And for a 10g tank, it sounds as if you have enough flow from a HOB and a power head.
ONE OTHER THING to consider, if you got this LR from a local source, great, but if you got it from a mail order, or it was out of a live system for a length of time like a day or two, then some of the rock can be having a bit of die off, but will spring back given time. This too, is normal for live rock that has been shipped.
So.. in short.. if the coraline is sloughing off due to no lights.. that's ok. Your system will work on replenishing the coraline once your system is stable, and there is a light source.
Hope this helped a bit......Have a great day.
I started with a 10g nanoreef too.
Yes.. keeping the lights out will keep the nuisance algae at bay, but you may sacrifice some of the established coraline on your rock. If you want it, you'll have to turn on a light source (BUT.. this is NOT necessary.. read on). By properly maintaining and establishing a balanced system, you'll be surprised at how the coraline comes back.
Your live rock will stay "LIVE" in your system regardless. Coraline will begin growing in the tank after is it more established.
I kept my lights on and had a large diatom bloom happen (brown algae LOOKING stuff).. all new tanks go through this. This is when reef cleaners are helpful, like crabs, snails and such. I have not read the sticky (now it is I who should be apologizing
) But the coraline with the film isn't going to hurt anything. And for a 10g tank, it sounds as if you have enough flow from a HOB and a power head. ONE OTHER THING to consider, if you got this LR from a local source, great, but if you got it from a mail order, or it was out of a live system for a length of time like a day or two, then some of the rock can be having a bit of die off, but will spring back given time. This too, is normal for live rock that has been shipped.
So.. in short.. if the coraline is sloughing off due to no lights.. that's ok. Your system will work on replenishing the coraline once your system is stable, and there is a light source.
Hope this helped a bit......Have a great day.
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Thanks, that was very informative. Um, should I adjust the parameters of the h20 at this time (besides the salinity)? Should I adjust the ammonia levels for instance? Or will the live rock do this naturally? If I do adjust the levels, should I use a liquid or something like ammolock chips? Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to kill the organisms in the rock.
ammo chips do NOT work in Salt water. (I'm a fresh water geek too, that is a couple years into salt now).
I was bummed after my first tank crash, that ammo chips do NOT work in salt water, and is NOT recommended.
As long as there is no livestock to worry about (fish, or corals etc).. then let the tank cycle as usual. The only reason I ever put ammonia binder liquid in my salt tank, was because I had fish I that I didn't want to kill with the ammonia. It is just a binder..
If you don't have any fish to worry about.. just let the tank progress in the cycle.
If you have fish in there.. then you may want to use an ammonia LIQUID binder for use in salt tanks, and do some partial water changes while monitoring your levels.
Glad I was of some assistance.
I was bummed after my first tank crash, that ammo chips do NOT work in salt water, and is NOT recommended.
As long as there is no livestock to worry about (fish, or corals etc).. then let the tank cycle as usual. The only reason I ever put ammonia binder liquid in my salt tank, was because I had fish I that I didn't want to kill with the ammonia. It is just a binder..
If you don't have any fish to worry about.. just let the tank progress in the cycle.
If you have fish in there.. then you may want to use an ammonia LIQUID binder for use in salt tanks, and do some partial water changes while monitoring your levels.
Glad I was of some assistance.
Please.. there are NO stupid questions when someone is seeking to better their understanding, or increase knowledge.
However, there are stupid answers
Before you add any fish, make sure to start with some cleaners.. sand sifting snails, a couple emerald crabs (Don't get turbo snails)...
Some of the BEST snails are... cerith snails, nerite snails (for eating algae) and Nassarius Snails for sand sifting. (I try to avoid turbo snails, and Astraea or conehead snails.. the turbos are too big for your tank, and the astraea snails die if they fall on their backs, and they do a lot).
I also like emerald crabs, they love to eat tiny bits off of liverock and waste from the sandbed.
I learned all about this the HARD way for my little 10g nano reef. The above recommended are a few of the hardy, easy to care for, cheap and do a great job for a nano system.
Good luck!
However, there are stupid answers
Before you add any fish, make sure to start with some cleaners.. sand sifting snails, a couple emerald crabs (Don't get turbo snails)...
Some of the BEST snails are... cerith snails, nerite snails (for eating algae) and Nassarius Snails for sand sifting. (I try to avoid turbo snails, and Astraea or conehead snails.. the turbos are too big for your tank, and the astraea snails die if they fall on their backs, and they do a lot).
I also like emerald crabs, they love to eat tiny bits off of liverock and waste from the sandbed.
I learned all about this the HARD way for my little 10g nano reef. The above recommended are a few of the hardy, easy to care for, cheap and do a great job for a nano system.
Good luck!
