Live Rock Turning White

[mrvinman]

Hi all,

I just got my live rock 1 week ago and it is turning white.

Is this normal during the curing process?

Water Parms:


SG = 1.024
PH = 8.2

Ammonia = Through the roof ( already did two 50% water changes)

At first skimmer produced much waste, now hardly any.

Thanks,
Vin

[Randall_James]

It is bleaching and some can be expected, a lot, no...

Regardless of how much water you change, you need to keep the ammonia levels down.. Elevated levels just kill more of the live stuff you got the rock for in the first place

Inspect for dead sponges etc if the levels keep going off the charts

I like a bit higher SG myself 1.026

[dixonba]

At least its not turning green!

[virginiadiver69]

I am tank curing rock my self. How do you suggest keeping ammonia down other than water changes.

[Randall_James]

There are chemical solutions but I like water changes. (ammolock, carbon)

If the levels keep rising you may have quantities of dead sponge or other organics you can clean off rock.

[mrvinman]

Has anybody ever tried PurpleUp by CaribSea?
It is supposed to promote coralline algae growth.

Has anbody ever tried Kent's Rock Prep to clean the rock?

[Randall_James]

PU (and is considered by some to be ) works if you are low on magnesium and strontium (and possibly Iodine).

It also adds powered aragonite (there are actually a couple products like this) So yes it "can" help. Aragamax and Aramilk are very similar and all will elevate calcium levels a bit

No idea about Rock Prep

[Socotroco]

Yes, I use Purple Up. Is a very good product. In just weeks you would see the change and the colors in your rocks. Be sure to use the exact portion.

[benray4fun]

keep the lights off or at least actinics only until they cure...are you blasting the rocks?....metal halides or t-5's at full strength... the rocks have to acclimated to the lights "AFTER" they cure. One hour one day and then two the next and so on...but metal halides will bleach'm anyways regardless of acclimation.

[mrvinman]

I keep the lights off all the time except the for when the lunar lights come on.

[drummereef]

Purple up can reek havoc on your alk and calcium levels. Dosing kalk or using a 2-part is a much better solution.

[boxfishpooalot]

My rocks turn white in spots too. I suspect its due to increasing cleanlyness of the water. I find if i skimm really wet. like a full cup daily i get cleaner rocks. Also, being bb the less dirt on the ground the faster the rocks turn white. Upon closer inspection i notice hair algae loves to trap detritus making my rocks nice and dirty brown color.

[birdfish]

Also live rock can turn white that was out of the water for too long in transit. As long as it stays "dry" in the box, it "looks" OK. But after two weeks, when you put it in water, it quickly turns white. Also a freezing event (below zero) during shipping can freeze it, in which case it may look OK upon receipt, and then again, quickly turn all white. Of course ammonia burn can do the same thing. Regardless, lots of stuff will eventually grow back in the overwhelming majority of cases. The worse the burn, the longer it takes. Good luck!

birdfish

[victor_c3]

It might be my immagination, but I think I have the same issue - and it looks like it is spreading. I've only had my live rock for about 3-4 days now. The rock was sitting in a tank at my LFS for 3-4 months and was out of water for about 1-1.5 hours during transit before I got it placed into my tank.

I'll just be patient and see how it goes...

[mrvinman]

I got my rock through LiveAquaria with overnight delivery. Still, the rock was out of water all that time. I called them up and told them the rock was turing white and they said it was normal and that eventually I would start to see color come back. They also suggested I reclean the rock which I just did.
I guess I'll have to wait and see now.

[Sk8r]

Temperatures above 84 can start bleaching coralline.

[mrvinman]

My temp is 80 Deg. and my SG is 1.024 which I believe is where it should be.