Cycling issue

[Hairytank]

So after four years away from reefing I am getting back in... my wife actually was the one who suggested it...but I am have a weird thing happen while cycling my old rock.

Background: Bleached and acid washed my old dry rock and have been cycling it in a Rubber maid container for just over three weeks. There are several pumps maintaining a high flow rate. Using Coralife Marine salt mix to cycle the rock. The temp is 79, specific gravity 1.025, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrate 5 ppm.

Issue: Three days after weekly water changes a significant number of small white particles are floating on the surface (not alive/swimming) and there is a mildew/musty odor.. I had a marine tank for over 10 years prior to shutting it down and never had anything like this..

Any thoughts?

[subman]

Could it possibly be left over dead organisms from deep inside the rock?

[Hairytank]

Given the extensive bleach and acid treatment it shouldn't be any organics, but anything is possible I guess.

[Evilweevil]

Is the water churning enough ? Even with good flow a film can develop on the water sometimes ? Are you filtering or running a skimmer or anything

[ckmullin]

How long was the acid treatment for a batch of rock?

[albert_dao]

SKim it with a net and rock it like nothing's wrong. Problem: Solution

[asylumdown]

Are you adding any sort of an ammonia source for the cycle? Putting rock that's been purged of all it's organics in to salty water won't cycle it. The cycle requires a source of ammonia (and if you want to speed it up, a source of organic carbon) to get the bacterial populations established. Trying to cycle without an ammonia source is like trying to grow a forest in a desert.

[asylumdown]

If you put in fish that has since rotted, it could just be a biofilm. Our tanks would have one if they weren't being surface skimmed all the time. It honestly doesn't sound like something I would worry about too much