Ladybus301

I just set up a 54 gallon salt water tank about 4 days ago. Ive noticed a white slimy film is developing on the rocks i put in the tank. I thought it was salt that had not dissolved and i brushed it off. but today it looks like it is growing again so i guess its not salt. does anyone have any ideas on what it is. and if it will hurt my fish ( 2 damsels).

Sniperelite8243

would you be able to send a pic please.

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Ladybus301

I cant send a pic Im really worried now. I think i may have put the fish in too soon (tank is only 4 days old) but the fish store said it was ok. but they seem ok so far this stuff has the consistency of mucus and is white and seems very salty

Sniperelite8243

im not really the person to diognoss the slimy stuff.
but
-return the fish asap if possible.
-read the cycling a tank sticky, it will inform you in the chemicals that will be in your tank for the next 1-1 2/2 months. specificly ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite.
- i recomend a fishless cycle, saltwater fish are more sensitive to these toxic chemicals. less stressfull for you and your fish.

good luck
&
welcome to the forum

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jd@ga

I agree with sniper. take those fish back and cycle that tank NOW!( J.K.)
Welcome to the forum and hope we can help you out.

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dang

Nookuler

Here's a quote from someone on another forum "Don't ever trust the LFS". At first I was wondering why wouldn't anyone trust the LSF, and then I had a run-in with my LFS. They were giving me "information" just so I would buy fish and LR from them. This was before I found this forum and I have yet to have any problems with my tank. Anyways, it sounds like you're getting some sort of algae. It's kind of weird since your tank is only 4 days old but anything is possible I guess. Are you using regular tap water? If so, did you use any sort of chemicals to get the impurities out? I ask only because I know that not everyone can afford an RO/DI unit (like myself). I have to use biocoat or go out to walmart to buy RO water. In any rate, you REALLY should take the fish back and cycle your tank with patience.

best of luck

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- 12gal Salty tank
- 1 Arabian Bluelined Dottyback
- 3 Hermit Crabs
- 2 Trochus Snails

Loman

While fishless cycling is cleary the way to go - if you had to use a fish the damsel would be one of the better choices. Not sure what the white slimy stuff is. I expect it is some sort of diatom and a lot of chemical interaction will be occurring in the next few weeks. It is best to get the fish back to the LFS to hold but if they will not do it try frequent water changes and hope for the best. If you have a friend with a salt tank that can hold them for a while that would also be a good alternative.

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Loman

24 Gallon Saltwater Aquapod
1 Royal Gramma
1 Blue Devil
1 Bicolor Chromis Lyretail
1 Scooter Blenny
1 Chocolate Chip Star Fish
Crabs and Snails

20 Gallon Freshwater
Swords, Zebra Danio, Neon Tetras, Albino Cat Fish, Plecostomus, snails

10 Gallon QT Saltwater
10 Gallon QT Freshwater (Divided)

Tommy Gun

Somewhat conversly, but I would not jump to get the fish out of the tank until you notice some real problems, either with the fish or with your water tests. Loman is right that damsels are pretty hard to kill and two of them in 54 gallons of water is not really a lot. HOWEVER, that all depends on how much die off you suspect occured during the transport of the rock home. For example, when I bought most of my life rock, it was out of water for less than 15 minutes and I had fish in the tank on week 2 and never looked back since. If there is a lot of die off, which would be apparent with an ammonia test, then it might be best to return the fish.

This could be salt as well. I would make sure that you have a good amount of current within your tank and moving across your live rock since undissolved salt can deposit itself in areas of low or no current. I think someone else had that same problem a while ago and I will try to find that thread since they had pictures you could compare your tank to.

Otherwise, if this is die off, get the fish out. You will know when the ammonia starts registering off the charts. Ammonia and nitrites are very toxic, and even more so in a saltwater tank with a Ph in the low to mid 8's.