Live Rock Color

[khaotik]

I have started my first tank almost three weeks ago. It is a 20 gallon long with almost 20 lb of live rock in it. I have been having trouble getting my lights shipped and still do not have none until next week. Well the first half of the live rock is now turned a pasty pale green color. Looks like nothing is living, The newest rock is still the purple as the day i put it in the tank. Is this live rock alright?

 

[yote]

Is the tank cycling?
Sounds like algae trying to grow on it.

 

[Smitty]

It should still be live. Like Yote mentioned, might be growing algae.

 

[bjohanson1234]

Really the term live rock is quite misleading. It doesnt mean that there is tons of things growing on it, it means that there is bacteria in it that will consume ammonia and nitrites and turn them into nitrates. It is exciting to see what kind of macro life will crawl out of it, but even if you dont get any crabs or shrimp, it will still be considered live rock.

 

[khaotik]

Thank you all. I just didnt know if not having any lights on it hurts it

 

[yote]

Thank you all. I just didnt know if not having any lights on it hurts it

While no light will cause some of algae to die off,it wont hurt the bacteria and micro inverts that live inside the rock.