Rock that is coming back to life! + coral and other?

[TimmyG]

so all the live rock in my tank had tons of stuff on them when i got them from a friend! I went through and washed it all off before I moved the rock into my tank. all the stuff is starting to come back! this may sound dumb but I have no idea what its called. I think I was told it is called coralling algae! there are 3 different types and I want to know what they are. the first one is a pink-purple color and has these little "pods" off of them. this is the one I have the most of. the second it a dark red and I don't know what it looks like because that part is just coming back. and last there is also a blue-green color on there too! that and then the long green (hair algae? I think) algae.

also I have not added any starfish or coral in there yet. what can I look at adding to the tank? I don't know anything about the different types of coral there are and what would be needed to support it.

:dance:

[David Grigor]

You forgot to add the pics. Descriptions don't really help.

[David Grigor]

Hair algae is from excess nutrients. You need to get that under control before adding any corals along with proper lighting already being discussed.

Are you using RO/DI water for all evaporation and/or to mix your salt ?
What filtration do you have ?
What do you feed that tank ?

[TimmyG]

I'll take some pics tonight if I remember!

as for the water I just use tap water with conditioner that I just mix up in a pail and let it sit for a few days.

for the filtration I have a aquaclear 70 and a seaclone 100 on the tank. plus the live rock and live sand.

the only food I put into the tank is bloodworms for the fish in there.

[David Grigor]

You need to either get a RO/DI unit or be purchasing RO water for your tank. Tap water is just not suitable. Every time your do a water change or replacing evaporated water you making things worse. Tap water has nitrate, heavy iron, and phosphates. All of which you will be constantly fighting algae issues.

[kpete4]

What size is the tank??

[TimmyG]

29 gallon

[patent]

Hair algae is from excess nutrients. You need to get that under control before adding any corals along with proper lighting already being discussed.
The used rock could have brought some of those nutrients with.

Re tap water, you can buy water at the fish store or from the grocery. That is probably a better approach than a RODI for you right now, givne the expense of an RODI unit.

[TimmyG]

can I use the RODI unit for my freshwater too or does that just work for salt?

[David Grigor]

Yes can for both to replace evaporation.

For water changes in the freshwater tank you do need to add Kent RO right ( or other similiar products ) to reconstitue the water. Nice thing though is that your in total control as to what KH will be this way.

[TimmyG]

well all I have been putting into the water is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals tap water conditioner. then I let it sit for a day or 2 with air running in it. then I use 2 different biozyme that I use. 1 for saltwater and 1 for freshwater depending on the tank that I'm doing the water change on.

[TimmyG]

so here are some pics of the tank. it took a little bit to put them on but my computer at home was running to slow so I have to do it at work here. I also took more but they didn't come out. dumb cheap old camera!

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/67/203zi0.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1529/209bf1.jpg

[David Grigor]

For a planted fw tank where the plants could use the nutrients or a tank without day bulbs, tap can be acceptable.

For a reef tank with heavy lighting, tap water is counter productive and will cause lots of headache when trying to resolve aglae issues. I'd never suggest doing so.