Help identify this white buildup.

[Dave Mrnak]

Hey guys, I recently noticed a white calcium like buildup in my tank on my live rock. Im not sure what it could be. I asked my LFS and they were stumped. Any idea? Pictures are in order from oct 12/ oct 9/ oct 2, sept 30th. Clearly getting worse.

Tank is 220gallon.
2 months old.
3 damsels
6 asteria snails
6 turbo snails
11 blue legged hermits. Livestock added 30 days ago.

Sept 30 levels
Nitrate 10
Ph 8.5
Salinity 1.02

Oct 12 levels.
Calcium 400
Nitrate 10
Ph 8.5
Salinity 1.02

The only article I could find mention calcium levels way off, and mine are close.

Thanks in advance!
Dave

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How are you keeping the ph that high?

What are you dosing?


Was this rock live when you put it in?

 

[Dave Mrnak]

I am currently not dosing anything. My levels have just been that.

All I run is a skimmer and wet/dry filter.

I was ready to start dosing based off my numbers when I was done cycling. Due to the white hard substance I wanted to figure that out first before adding good fish and starting to Reef!

My rock was from my LFS. It is Fiji rock, that has been cleaned and cured for a month or so before I added it to my tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You won’t need to dose for quite some time.
A lot of folks will add a ph booster for no really good reason or the lfs Reccomend it. It’ll shoot the ph and the alk way up and could “possibly “ make calcium precipitate I think.

I’m gonna guess it’s man made Walt smith Fuji Rock?

Can is see a closer example of the white spot.

Does it scape off?
Does the rock color scrape off?
Did you clean it with acid?

 

[Dave Mrnak]

Its not man made.

It doesnt really scrape off unless you really pull on it then it will break into tiny pieces.

No i have not cleaned it with acid.

 

[Dave Mrnak]

Just got my test kits! So i tested all i could.
Before it was just done by my LFS.

Salinity 1.022
Ammonia 0
Alkalinity 9.464 dkH
Phosphate 0
Magnesium 1380
Nitrate 5
PH 8.5
Calcium 477 ppm
Iodine 0.06ppm

Hope this helps

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well I’m stumped too. Nothing wrong with the levels I see. Po4 is really low (but assuming it’s not a low range test.) nothing that should effect that.

I would retest the ph three times early am after noon and before lights out just to get a feel for the swing.

My guy wants to say it’s somthing coming if not on. But I can’t see it and the progression as well as you in real life.

More eyes and and opinions please
#reefsquad

 

[DSC reef]

I don't see anything that suggests calcium precipitation so possibly something leeching from the rock? I'm with you salty, stumped.

 

[Captain Quint]

Just curious. Did your rock have any Coralline Algae initially?

 

[Dave Mrnak]

Just curious. Did your rock have any Coralline Algae initially?

No sir, it was pretty well cleaned and cured. Nothing on it as well

 

[Dave Mrnak]

Well I’m stumped too. Nothing wrong with the levels I see. Po4 is really low (but assuming it’s not a low range test.) nothing that should effect that.

I would retest the ph three times early am after noon and before lights out just to get a feel for the swing.

My guy wants to say it’s somthing coming if not on. But I can’t see it and the progression as well as you in real life.

More eyes and and opinions please
#reefsquad

Well, I do appreciate you giving your thoughts on it. Thanks for the help

 

[Dave Mrnak]

I don't see anything that suggests calcium precipitation so possibly something leeching from the rock? I'm with you salty, stumped.

Rock as very well cleaned and cured. Looked very white and petrified before recieving it

 

[Flippers4pups]

All I have is calcium precipitation reaction with the rock surface. Rock leaching something causing calcium to build up on it. Scrape some off and place it in some vinegar and see if it fizzles.

 

[Dave Mrnak]

@Flippers4pups ill grab some tomorrow and tell you what I see!

 

[NY_Caveman]

I will say when I added real Fiji live rock to my new system it had some coralline algae that died off or at least bleached causing parts of the rock to look white. It did come back pretty quick and grew strong.

Sounds like this was not the case for you though, but I offer for what it is worth.

 

[Art2249]

Get some on your finger and see if it stinks. I had some white cyano once. Or at least thats what I think it was. Smelled bad.

 

[Dave Mrnak]

@Art2249 doesnt smell at all

 

[Art2249]

@Art2249 doesnt smell at all

Well thats probably good!

 

[Dave Mrnak]

#reefsquad
I hope this video helps

 

[Dave Mrnak]

@Flippers4pups
I put the piece of rock from my video in vinegar, its fizzled slighty in the first 30 mins and now is very very slighty fizzling. I can just barely hear it, if I put my ear to the cup.
Feels somewhat slimy now. I presume due to the white buildup dissolving.

This help point us in the right direction coupled with my video.
I sure hope soo!