What's the white stuff???

[bigben]

Hello all,
I am cycling my 55gal with my new fiji live rock. There is a white substance growing that looks like regular old mold. Anyone know what this stuff is and if it is bad???
It kind of moves in my current too.
Thanks
Ben :notsure:

 

[jessecnc]

Could be a sponge.

 

[torno]

My guess would be a sponge too.

 

[bigben]

So, that is desirable?

 

[alyssia]

Sponges won't hurt anything.

 

[xdave]

The rock you bought is uncured. It will spread all over and totally pollute your tank. It'll probably show up on all the rock you bought that was uncured, it needs to be removed. You can simply vacuum it off with your siphon. Keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrite.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by xDave
The rock you bought is uncured. It will spread all over and totally pollute your tank. It'll probably show up on all the rock you bought that was uncured, it needs to be removed. You can simply vacuum it off with your siphon. Keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrite.

:scared: Didn't know that.

 

[xdave]

The white stuff is called "die back" . The sponge and stuff on live rock grows in layers like skin. It gets too much air exposure when collected and transported. Basically what your seeing is a blistering sunburn. The bad things in a nutshell are; thats way too much dead stuff to cycle a tank, it suffacates the beneficial bacteria inside the rock.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by xDave
The rock you bought is uncured. It will spread all over and totally pollute your tank. It'll probably show up on all the rock you bought that was uncured, it needs to be removed. You can simply vacuum it off with your siphon. Keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrite.
He's cycling the tank with it, I wouldn't worry about removing it!!!! Your over reacting!!! To the original poster, keep testing your tank, do not let the ammonia get too high, do water changes as needed. Too high of ammonia can kill the good stuffs on the rocks as well. Give it plenty of flow to blow those stuffs away. Then let the cycle begain!! :happyfish

 

[xdave]

I worked at an importer and was in charge of caring for several tons of live rock and the system it was in. Millions of dollars of livestock entrusted to me based on my knowlege of this very situation.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by xDave
I worked at an importer and was in charge of caring for several tons of live rock and the system it was in. Millions of dollars of livestock entrusted to me based on my knowlege of this very situation.

gonna go get some popcorn cause I know where this thread is going.
Mikeyjer repeat after me "woooosaaaaa.....wooooosaaaa"

 

[alyssia]

***)

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Stanlalee

gonna go get some popcorn cause I know where this thread is going.
Mikeyjer repeat after me "woooosaaaaa.....wooooosaaaa"

I wasn't gonna saying anything else actually.... ***)

 

[xdave]

You guys callin me a troublemaker ?

I wasn't tryin to start anything, honest

People cycle tanks with uncured LR all the time. Having to clean that smelly crap out of everything, and the sound of my boss screaming about the $800 pump that burnt up when only about a cup of slime jammed the impeller (in proportion to a large powerhead that would be about a tablespoon) , makes me strongly suggest get rid of it.

 

[bigben]

Yes, it is a small amount of coverage in comparison to how much live rock is in my tank. Its covering about 1% of my rock. I could suck it out in about two seconds.
Sounds like thats my best bet since it is not worth taking the chance.
I appreciate all the help guys.
And, I think its helpful to have multiple opinons! Talk On! ***)