White Growth on Rock

[Icey MD]

I've still got this white stuff growing and it seems to be slowly spreading over the past few months. It is definitely not just the underlying rock. It's smooth and does not scrape off. not fuzzy or flakey. its growing everywhere that is blocked from the overhead lights (hard to see in the pic) plus a few spots in light exposed areas. Ca 400, KH 143.

Any ideas what it is?

 

[geddavis]

it seems like your snails are just eating some algae off the rocks. id use a toothbrush and scrub a rock to see if it looks the same as the white stuff. id also scrape the white spot to see if it is a growth or just a bare spot. I also thought the same thing when I got my first few snails.

 

[Icey MD]

it seems like your snails are just eating some algae off the rocks. id use a toothbrush and scrub a rock to see if it looks the same as the white stuff. id also scrape the white spot to see if it is a growth or just a bare spot. I also thought the same thing when I got my first few snails.

No its definitely on top of the rock. the rock itself is not pure white like this stuff is.

 

[ChiSox Rabbitfish]

I agree with above my rock looks like that every now and then after my sea urchin goes on a feeding frenzy.

 

[geddavis]

just try scrubbing some of the rock to see if it looks like the white patches

 

[Scotty Buttons]

It looks like something on top of the rock, for sure, interesting.. let's call in the #reefsquad

 

[Ron Reefman]

Have you tried to scrape any of it off with a knife or a something with a point (I use a dental pic)? I'm wondering if it could be sponge or some kind of bacterial colony bloom?

 

[Cmedeiros]

I’m pretty sure that’s normal. I’ve also started a 120 gallon and I have the same stuff growing on the rocks

 

[Ron Reefman]

I’m pretty sure that’s normal. I’ve also started a 120 gallon and I have the same stuff growing on the rocks

Saying it's "normal" is OK, but that's not the question is it? The question is, what is it?

 

[Brad Miller]

I know the kind others are saying like the snails eat the algae and even if you had colored dry rock, the color comes off and a white spot is left.

OP says it is a growth on the rocks, and that he can’t scrape it off....still could be from the snails

 

[Cmedeiros]

Saying it's "normal" is OK, but that's not the question is it? The question is, what is it?

Bacteria colony formation.

 

[Icey MD]

UPDATE:
So I think it may be glue from when I originally glued the rock together (jurassic gel). I recently glued a coral down and a tiny bit of glue came off and landed somewhere on the rock, producing a white spot like the others. I thought original white spots were growing, but then I remembered that I had taken apart the rock when i was having some bullying issues. when i put it back together, it wasnt exactly the same. For the record, using a dental pick did nothing to help scrape it. and i'm thinking that the white stuff on the underside of the rock is just the rock. Theres no way i used that much glue, so it seems that a small drop can really spread. I feel like a dope!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

 

[Brad Miller]

We’ve all been there Icey !

 

[Ron Reefman]

Don't feel bad, when you have a question, you want an answer. That's a big part of why you come here and why we all try to help. Glad you figured it out and maybe some others have learned something from your experience!