help - white pox?!?

[ElMonoCalvo]

I've got what looks like white pox or patchy necrosis on my LR/coral (see pictures). At least that's my educated guess after skimming through the coral health chapter of Borneman's Aquarium Corals book. If it is some sort of disease, any help to get rid of it would be appreciated.

Tank Specs:
29 gal
35 lbs LR
Red Sea Prizm Skimmer
AquaClear 200 Filter
2 Maxi-Jet 400 Powerheads
2 heaters (both rated for at least a 30 gal tank)
1.022-1.023 Specific Gravity
76-78 degrees Farenheit

Note: This is my first marine tank and I'm about 2 1/2 weeks into cycling the LR (Lalo). Got it uncured from Drs Foster and Smith and have been following setup and curing procedures from that site and from The New Marine Aqaurium book by Michael Paletta.

Action taken so far: today's Thursday, I dipped all the rocks on Tuesday in Seachem Reef Dip and did a 30% water change. Depending on feedback, I'm going to plan to do anohter dip and water change over the next couple days.

 

[Anonymous]

ElMono - if that's mostly rock there I wouldn't worry about it. Looks like bleaching coralline algae which happens often when moving LR to more intense light. It will come back eventually - if you want to try then scrub a small portion of it off and see if it comes back. In one photo it looked like it might be growing on a briareum species of encrusting coral. If so then that might be cause for alarm but I wouldn't cycle the tank with that unless you are prepared to have part of it die off - it is a pretty hardy coral in my experience though.

 

[ElMonoCalvo]

The first picture is kind of hazy but both pictures are of the same looking rock/coral. It came on the LR I'm cycling and I'd like to save it if it is a type of encrusting coral. The only light I've had on the tank are a couple nearby incandescent lamps I've been using while working on the tank. Other than that, the tank is sitting in a dark corner of the room away from all windows.

 

[ElMonoCalvo]

Just an update in case anybody stumbles across this plea for help: I dipped the LR and did a 30% water change again this past weekend and the white stuff seems to be in remission.