White Wispy Stuff

mcunnin812@aol. · #1 12/31/2007, 04:48 PM

I have developed white wispy material covering all of my LR while cycling a new tank.

FS told me to place uncured LR, Fiji, into tank and start cycling.

What is this and should I be concerned?

Also, this process is very smelly!

Thanks everyone.

Marty

papagimp · #2 12/31/2007, 04:54 PM

Not too sure on that. Can you get us a photo posted? Either way, nothing in the tank right now but rock right? No need to be concerned as of yet.

and yes, will be a very smelly process, Thanks to the uncured live rock. Just FYI, you can use live rock too, doesn't have to be uncured rock at all. allthough most live rock you purchase locally stands a good chance of having some die off occur (which causes the smellyness.)

mcunnin812@aol. · #3 12/31/2007, 11:13 PM

Thanks for the reply. Correct, nothing in tank but LR until cycle is complete.

I'll wear a respirator!

aquawolf · #4 12/31/2007, 11:32 PM

Yeah, I bet the LFS never said a word about how the uncured rock could make the rest of your house smell as it goes through the die off process.

Just be patient and let it run its natural course to becoming cycled. The die off will actually help cause the ammonia spike you need.

Good luck with the smell.

mcunnin812@aol. · #5 01/01/2008, 01:34 PM

Nope.

LFS did not say a word about smell. Good thing I have it in the basement, other wise the wife would kick us both out.

Thanks for all the advise, I feel better about it.

When do I start water changes?

ArgonDreams · #6 01/01/2008, 02:10 PM

Drs. Foster and Smith have a good article on Curing Live rock. I have used it for all of my rock and have had great results.

How to Cure Live Rock

I like this method because it saves a lot of the hitchhikers due to the water changes. However there are two thoughts on that. Some people don't want hitchhikers and let the ammonia flow free and kill off a lot of critters. I am in the second category and want feather dusters, corals, worms etc to live.