Live rock turning beige / white

[Capsle]

Hey Reefers,

I've had my live rock in my DT with about 20g of water for a little over a week now with just 2 small power heads as my tank isn't filled (cracked eruobrace).

I've noticed that it's started bleaching out changing to beige / tan. And the water was merky / cloudy white.

I tested water yesterday.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 50
Cal 490-500
Alk 12
PH 7.6
Phosphate .5

No livestock in the tank at the moment.

Last night I setup a canister filter with sponges, active carbon, and small rocks for sediment the meantime. I should have my tank up and running this weekend hopefully.

This morning the water was clear which I think is a good sign. I haven't tested water today as I had to leave on a business trip but will test when I get back tomorrow.

I have also added 5g of fresh saltwater, turned my gyre on and started with a light schedule (as of last night).

Just wondering what's going on with the rock, is there anything I can do to help it and should I be worried.

The first pic is when I got the rock and the second is taken this morning.


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[SeaCucumberFan]

I think this just happens normally. It will turn brown again once the tank has been established (at least for me)

 

[knutrainer]

Did you have the rock shipped to you? Its probably just die off from the rock.

 

[mcgyvr]

So you want all that green algae back?
I don't get it?

Any light on it?

parameters are weird too a bit.. PH low.. ALK high.. CAL a bit high..

cloudy could simply be a bacterial bloom.. or just the results of all the die off..

 

[heathlindner25]

I've never set up a tank quite like this, anything stopping you from filling the tank all the way up? Got to get the thing running.

 

[Capsle]

I had picked up the rock from a guy who just redid his aquascape. It was in great condition and not and bad hitch hikers, only a small patch of bubble algae which I removed.

I stored it in a Rubbermaid bin with slat water and 2 small power heads for about a week and it was doing fine.

I put it in my tank last week and cracked my euro brace by accident which is why I can't fill the tank at the moment. I ordered a new one and should get it by the end of this week so I should be able to fill it this weekend (fingers crossed)!

I agree on the water parameters being weird. I might have messed up the alk test. I measures it 2 days before and it was 8.0. (All parameters were in normal spec). PH was at 7.8 and CAL at 450. Salinity is at 1.025.

I didn't have any lights on, the tank is in my basement and doesn't get any direct sunlight either.

I did set my light schedule up last night and today is the first day it would have proper lighting.

I will check everything when I get back tomorrow.

I do see a whole bunch of Copepods and Isopods moving around my tank so that should be a good sign.


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