White 'powder'

[Chucky]

My live rock seems to have devloped a white 'powder' on all of them. The 'powder' is not at all uniform in grain size and shape; some seem to be elongate 'tubes'. It looks like it was dropped gently from above.
Any ideas what the hell this is?

 

[Anonymous]

Without a picture it's hard to say for sure. How old is the rock? Could it be detrius (white looking snowy stuff) forming as the rock is curing?

 

[SnowManSnow]

I'm betting your rock is still curing.. but hard to say from the description. It SHOULD diminish, although probably never totally disappear, as your rock cures.

Good luck!

B.

 

[ChrisRD]

As mentioned above - hard to say with no pic. If it's new rock, it could be something that has died-off during the curing process...

 

[Chucky]

It's been cured in the LFS for over 2 weeks...and I have copepods whizzing about on my glass...also 2 red hermits I wanted to use to test the water chemistry emperically, and they are doing fine.

 

[dodo99]

Could it be Calcium precipitation? How's your Alk?

 

[SnowManSnow]

Well, if you got the white powder in an envelope, I'd go see a doctor ASAP

 

[Chucky]

Could be Ca ppt...guess I have to collect some and then...what? How do I test it? Not vinegar for bubbling? Does it ppt as Ca CO3?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

you test calcium just like you test for anything else. I recommend the Salifert Calcium test kit. very easy to use and reliable results.

that being said, I highly doubt its calcium precipitate. that generally only occurs when you've been overdosing with a calcium supplement.

 

[Chucky]

Well, the purple 'zits' on the rock (refer to my poor-res pic in another thread) seem to be growing through this 'dusting'.
Tank hasn't cycled yet...been about only a week.