Help!! Strange white residue on everything!!

Jimmer · 08-25-2001, 12:30 AM

I am praying someone has either had this problem or can give advice on what is happening with my new saltwater tank.
I am in the process of cycling my tank. I perfomed my setup on 8-1-01 and added fish (4 damsels) the same day. I have been monitoring the water conditions daily and have seen no change in Ph (8.3ish) ammonia (none) Nitrite (none) and Nitrate (none). I recently added water (treated to remove chlorine)and have noticed since then a bizarre white residue circulating in the water and it now is covering my rocks and fake plants.

I have NO idea what this is and am very concerned by it. I am also concerned by the length of time it appears this tank is taking to cycle.

Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks!!!

Hermit · 08-25-2001, 01:50 AM

Jimmer,

THe white substance. How did you add the SW to your tank? did you mix it in the tank, or aerate (sp) for a few days? What mix are you using? Also, what is your starting water (I assume it is tap water)?

Just a few questions to help pinpoint the problem.

Jimmer · 08-25-2001, 01:56 AM

Hermit,

The water I added was only treated to remove chlorine. I added no salt as the selinity was a bit high and the addition of plain old tap water brought me backl to where I wanted to be 1.022. Unfortunately yes, it is tap water. I plan to purchase a tap water filter soon. The SW I put in the tank initially was premixed and aerated for 24 hrs before the tank was set.

If it isn't obvious yet this is my first salt tank. I've done freshies for years and my friends turned me on to this wonderful addiction and amazing money loss program!!

Alice · 08-25-2001, 02:07 AM

Welcome to The Reef Tank, Jimmer! You've got good company there in WI; several members on this board from up that way and a pretty active SW club, too

I'm not really sure what the white residue could be, the only thing I can think of and it may be waaaay off the mark is if there has been some kind of reaction to the dechlorinator.

As for the cycle; have you been testing all along or just recently? Have you double checked with different test agents for confirmation of results? You've got to have had some kind of cycle going on by now. Did your friends give you sand from their tanks to start yours up?

Questions, questions

~Alice

Jimmer · 08-25-2001, 02:12 AM

Alice,

Well questions are MUCH better than dead silence!! I have been monitoring my water since day one! I'm rather exuberant about getting my tank set and going.

I thought it may be a reaction to the declorinator as well but this is the same declorinator I used when I added the water initially.

I am planning on getting a new test kit this weekend and seeing if I get better results from that. I'm currently using the Wardley master kit.

Thanks again for helping me out!

Alice · 08-25-2001, 12:39 PM

Let us know what you find out!

FishDaddy · 08-25-2001, 12:55 PM

Hi Jimmer,

Good to have you aboard The Reef Tank!
It's hard to tell without knowing a lot more about your tank. Have you added anything else to your tank, such as Buffer or Calcium additives?
The most common reason for white residue is Calcium precipitating out of solution, usually from excess of some Calcium additives.
HTH,
Dick

Jimmer · 08-26-2001, 01:01 AM

I thought that as well. However I have added no buffers or calcium. Which reminds me. I need to get a test for Ca as well. I am making a concerted effort to use as little chemical additives to the tank as possible. I was planning on purchasing some LR as well this weekend but I don't want to obliterate the culture on the LR if I am having a prob in my tank now. I'm planning on doing a little water change 10% to see if that helps at all.