I'm starting my first 20g reef tank, currently trying to cycle the tank. Today I noticed this white hair looking stuff growing on the rocks. What is this?
https://i.redd.it/ao94w6482tm01.jpg
https://i.redd.it/ao94w6482tm01.jpg
First time, trying to cycle tank. What is this weird white hair looking stuff?
- Thread starter mochlate
- Start date
I agree...it looks like some type of algae either with debris covering it or it's dying and losing/lost the green color...
Just like mcgyvr has mentioned. What happened to your live rock? Did you buy it this way? If you did, please, remove it and buy new dry rock.
I made once a mistake of buying used rock from PETCO that was filled with ICH parasites, my biggest regret ever.
Used live rock seems good but they can carry a whoooooole bunch of issues within them that you'll never know until it starts killing everything in your tank, do some research, please.
When you start a new tank, is very important to start with everything NEW, and this includes the live rock.
A cheap option is saltwaterfish.com as well as bulkreefsuply, they both sell cheap new rock.
This algae looks like hair algae with dust/sand on it IMO.
Good luck buddy!
I made once a mistake of buying used rock from PETCO that was filled with ICH parasites, my biggest regret ever.
Used live rock seems good but they can carry a whoooooole bunch of issues within them that you'll never know until it starts killing everything in your tank, do some research, please.
When you start a new tank, is very important to start with everything NEW, and this includes the live rock.
A cheap option is saltwaterfish.com as well as bulkreefsuply, they both sell cheap new rock.
This algae looks like hair algae with dust/sand on it IMO.
Good luck buddy!
This was used live rock my friend got from a local store (not sure which)
I threw it in the tank along with some live sand, distilled water and an appropriate amount of salt.
3 days later this is where we are
The white stuff does flow in the water and is not stiff.
Should I just can the whole project and start with new sand water and dry rock. Or is this just the algae that was on the live rock dying as part of the cycling process?
I threw it in the tank along with some live sand, distilled water and an appropriate amount of salt.
3 days later this is where we are
The white stuff does flow in the water and is not stiff.
Should I just can the whole project and start with new sand water and dry rock. Or is this just the algae that was on the live rock dying as part of the cycling process?
Here is a short video for a better idea: https://photos.app.goo.gl/0HGIEN3F2OXN2jsy2
Reefcleaners dry rock! No phosphates!
https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/to...s-dry-rock-hands-down-the-best-in-the-market/
mcgyvr
New member
It could be loaded with phosphates that can take quite a while to leach out and just cause the algae to continue growing like crazy.. The smart move would be to trash it and get some more rock from reefcleaners as stated above..
With such a small tank and such a little amount of rock/cost just trash that crap.. Its not worth trying to save it..
With such a small tank and such a little amount of rock/cost just trash that crap.. Its not worth trying to save it..
mcgyvr
New member
That's exactly how I set up and cycled my tank.
