Precipitate on rocks

[Reefer911]

Is it normal to have precipitates speckled all over the rocks? It’s not horrible, but it’s there and I notice it. Just curious. My Ca and Mg are right where they need to be and have been for a while.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alk and pH are the biggest drivers of precipitation of calcum carbonate, but I would not be sure that is what you are seeing. How are you dosing alk and how high is it and pH?

Can you get a picture?

 

[Reefer911]

Thanks, alk is in the mid 8s and pH is 8.4.
I’m at work so can’t get a pic right now but I’m not even sure it would show up in the pic.

 

[Reefer911]

Im dosing Brightwell’s Alkalin 8.3 via Ecotech Versa.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd be a bit surprised if it is precipitation. That's not the typical way it shows up, nor the normal conditions.

 

[Reefer911]

A while back I tried out sea lab no27 and on the second block, I placed it in front of a power head I have in the sump and it disintegrated almost overnight ‍
I did get some precip from that event and have since added to my aqua scape, and it looks like the new rock is speckled. Again, it’s not horrible. I’m mostly curious and not really worried since my parameters look good. Just thought I’d ask around and find out if this is a common occurrence even with stable (and within range) parameters

 

[Reefer911]

Ok here’s a pic. And yeah I do see precipitate on the new rock that was added after the Sea Lab block incident. Also some on the glass as you can see. I would like to figure this out so it doesn’t happen again.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not draw conclusions from what happened in the past with a poorly designed product like Sealab 28 that may even disintegrate without dissolving in the first place.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you sure the doors are not coralline? Growing corraline tips can be white spots.

 

[Reefer911]

I don’t think the current precipitation is from the sea lab block. I’m just saying that the previous precipitation was definitely due to its overnight dissolving.
I didn’t know coralline was a possibility. That’s cool if it is. I do have it growing on my power heads.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, precipitation of calcium carbonate does not generally stick to coralline, it sticks to warm objects (heaters, pump impellers) and existing calcium carbonate surfaces (sand, etc.).

maybe google pictures of white growing tips on coralline.

 

[Reefer911]

Ok I will look that up, thanks

 

[Lavey29]

I had white spots all over my rocks like that around 4 months. They went away on their own in a few months after.

 

[Enchanted Reefs]

I think those are spirorbid. Notice how they look like tiny snails

 

[Reefer911]

I’m getting the magnifying glass out to inspect closer

 

[Reefer911]

Shoot I think you’re right. What do I do about this?

 

[Enchanted Reefs]

Shoot I think you’re right. What do I do about this?

Maybe reduce feeding or get a wrasse? I have them as well but mine stopped spreading after a while but not really sure why…

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think those are spirorbid. Notice how they look like tiny snails

Nice call!