My less than a week old tank.

[Noober]

Please give me some more helpful info, I have never had anything saltwater before 1 week ago, I put my rocks in the night before last night. As soon as I put the new rock in. The 5 lbs of rock that I had in there for 2 days longer started turning solid white. It had lots of white dots all over it the day after I first cured it. Is this a white form of coraline alge, it looks like it is getting some pink on it as well, but ive noticed it has spread to some of my other new rocks, and is covering the already established pink/purple coraline alge. Is this a good kind of alge? I am very new and I know I ask many silly questions that usually if i read enough I could figure out for myself. But it seems that lots of the sites and books I read are not very specific enough to directly answer my questions. So please bare with my noobness and I will say that I am very very grateful for any information that you good people are willing to share. I love to learn and I am already addicted to this tank. hehe Thanks a lot!

[Noober]

[apedroza]

More than likely it is die off from the coralline algae. Usually happens in new unmature tanks. Coralline will generally die off only to return once the tank has cycled. Keeping your Alkalinity and Calcium levels up should help it come back since some of your rock is stil covered in it. Also using boosters like reef builder in your top off water or purple up should speed along the process. As far as your other post is concerned MH should not affect coralline algae growth if all your levels are maintained. My tank use to be covered in it and I ran 2-250watts MH

[Bill S]

When coraline is exposed to the air for more than a few minutes, it dies. As Anthony pointed out, this is normal and it should grow back. Personally, I wouldn't use "Purple Up", but that's up to you. Others use it and like it.

[Noober]

Thanks a ton guys, I really appricate it. I will look into some tank suppliments. Kudos to you all~ Matt

[Kyle46N]

I found that Sea Chem's Reef Complete makes life very easy. It keeps your calcium up with very few doses. Like already mentioned the white is just corraline dying off.

[Noober]

The wierd thing that got me was, thoes rocks with white on them were purchased from a store here in town. The rest of my rock came from a private party. Thoes rocks are the only ones with white on them. And when they were in her tank which had very little rock in it and a lot of fish, they had no color on them what so ever. They looked like tanish non colonized rock with white spots all over them. I thought they might be worms or snail eggs. It wasnt until a week later when i saw pink alge and that white coating growing on it. Anyway thanks a lot for the info! kudos

[Richard]

The little white spots are spirorbid worms. Here is a ID article that will help you identify all of the little critters you are going to be seeing show up on your live rock.

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm