WHITE COTTON LOOKING MATERIAL

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Discuss all topics related to saltwater / reef tanks.


angel687407
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:24 pm

WHITE COTTON LOOKING MATERIAL

by angel687407

Hello, I just set up a 14 gallon biocube on 3/21 with about 15 pounds of live rock. I just noticed what looks like white cotton on the underside of my biggest piece of rock. It seems to be over the entire piece. Can anyone please advise me to what this could be and if it is harmful. Sorry, I dont have any pics.

I also have a tiny starfish that is all white that hitched a ride with the rock and this morning it was attached to one of my button polyps. Is either one harmful to the other? Again sorry but no pics. Thank you


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

starfish most likely good, cotton most likely bad.... id take out hte rock and scrub off all that cotton stuff.... do you have ne experience in SW btw?


angel687407
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:24 pm

by angel687407

I had a fish only tank about 15 years ago. This is my first reef tank, first time with live rock.


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

oh ya... live rock is pretty new to the hobby so i hear... 15 years ago is a while back as far as fish tanks go... i dont think ill ever try a tank that small though... from what ive head levels can variate in just a matter of hours


angel687407
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:24 pm

by angel687407

Thanks for the advice blue. Took the rock out and after getting a good look at it it looked more like a grayish white slime. Gave it a good scrub, now will wait to see if it comes back. Do you have any idea what this stuff might be or why I am getting it?

I have read alot about tank sizes and levels variating. I feel if I go slow and don't over stock and don't over feed I should be able to maintain the proper levels. I know its small so I plan on just a few starter corals, a small cleaner crew, and see how it goes. After a few months when I get a better feel for maintaining a reef tank I may add a clown. Thanks again.


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

yeah the set up seems pretty good, i have no idea what the stuff on the rock could have been, i mean look at all the stuff thats in the ocean... its endless possibilities. Def go slow when youre setting up and stuff, sounds like youll be okay though, keep us updated


newbie916
 
Posts: 375
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:12 pm

by newbie916

It could be a sponge of some sort. I have yellow sponges growing out of my rock and some white sponges growing on one of my corals. It seems to be pretty harmless though. Starfish, brittle stars, snails, are common hitchhikers on LR and they start breeding like mad. You'll probably notice copepods, mushrooms, and feather dusters coming out as well. It's pretty cool to see what stuff grows in established systems


blueshoes2208
 
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:01 pm

by blueshoes2208

yeah there are alot of stuff on the rock, i had bristle worms till i got my pseudochromis, had aiptaisa fixed it with a p-shrimp, got startfish, no snails so far, i think all my copepods got eaten haha lots of feather dusters and i had a sponge growing but i didnt like it so i ripped it out... looked like a fungus ahha after jus one night of being out of water it looked like dehydrated beef jerkey haha


angel687407
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:24 pm

by angel687407

I have noticed what looks like a yellow sponge on a couple of the rocks and I do have 1 mushroom growing.....thats pretty cool. Every time I look at the tank it's almost like I'm looking at it for the first time with all the different stuff I keep finding.


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

It was probably just a sponge. Filter feeder. Wouldnt have hurt anything. I have a few green and a few yellow in my tank in the shaded parts of my rocks. They reproduce quickly...so if you dont like them rid them. But they dont hurt. Theres a few diff types of (small) starfish. Make sure its not an asternia. They eat corals.

WHITE COTTON LOOKING MATERIAL

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