Rocks

[casper3t]

my 10 gallon tank been cycling for like 2 weeks with 2 shrimp, 1 pound of live rocks and 7 pounds of base rocks. i noticed that some of the base rock i put in there is turning white and some have red spots. what is that?

 

[fishfreek]

The red spots could be coraline. Although 2 weeks is kind of quick. Can you rub it off easily?

 

[electrikat]

Red or brown? You should be due for a diatom outbreak soon.

 

[casper3t]

its red, what is diatom?

 

[lando]

Could just be a bacteria bloom. It is a normal part of the cycling process. As fishfreak asked, can you rub it off easily?

 

[casper3t]

no its not easily rub off, but i might look purple color

 

[klam]

Sounds like coraline to me also.
two decaying shrimp in a 10g might be a little too much. One shrimp should be enough to cause major ammonia in a 10g.

 

[lando]

Yup, sounds like coraline algea. A good thing. I agree with the shrimp, you can yank one to keep the smell down.

 

[casper3t]

cool thanks, do you think coral will survive in bad lighting? for like a week?

 

[lando]

It depends on the coral. Some of the hardier softies may do fine for a week or so while waiting for better lighting. Others may not.