Do you blow off your Rocks with a Turkey Baster?

[Sindjin]

Just curious if throught the life of an SPS tank, its good to blow off the rock periodically.

Do you do it? How often?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

A lot of folks use powerheads or pumps.

 

[Znut Reefer]

I use a powerhead once every 2 weeks. Seems to alot better job than the turkey baster. And easier on the hands.

 

[Sindjin]

Do you find that your rock sheds a lot? Does your tank get totally cloudy?

 

[Znut Reefer]

No not too much, but can see a good bit of debris flying around. Behind my rock where I can't get to it does have alot. I'm planning the next tank to have more room behind the rock, so hopefully won't have this problem.

 

[Sindjin]

The reason I ask is because I just blew off like 6 rocks and my tank was totally cloudy....as if you poured milk in it.
Granted my rock is only 3 months old.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Thats a lot of shedding. I would blow the rock every week and keep that debris suspended so it can get to the skimmer to get skimmed out. My rock is over 5 yrs old. But has been in the 225 I have now running for 3 yrs. So not too much shedding now.

 

[SERVO]

Even with w 6100's, a Dart Closed loop and three returns via a Hammerhead; there still are dead zones. I know this by the small dust storms that I create after using my Turkey Baster!

 

[want2reef]

I use the good old turkey baster, every two or three days.

It does make my water a little cloudy, for a couple of minutes.

 

[fishdoc11]

I put a sock on my return, blow the rocks off with a MJ 1200 and take the sock off when the water clears up, usually after a couple of hours. I try to do this once a week.
Chris

 

[Sindjin]

I havent done it in a few weeks thats why it was so bad.
In addition, Im running a filter sock on my secondary overflow while my primary directly feeds my skimmer. I chamge the sock every 2 days.

But I didnt just blow off the rocks. I also blew them out...sticking the end in various holes while pumping the baster.

 

[Mariner]

This would be a cool poll.
I usually blow off my rocks with a turkey baster right before I do my regular partial water change.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[64Ivy]

Most often I'll use a Python hose attached to a sump pump which, oddly enough, I place in my sump. I've been doing this every two weeks for some time now so I don't get too much detritus blowing around anymore. Corals seem to enjoy the 'storm' though. Triggers an almost immediate feeding response.

 

[mcox33]

when my tanks were newly setup I used a turkey baster several times a day starting at the top and working my way down. Now I do it when I am getting ready to do a water change.

 

[NoSchwag]

I used to blow mine off a lot more than I do now.. Maybe once a week I do it now before I siphon.

Last weekend I threw a filter sock on and di a really thorough job.

 

[orion76]

I use a powerhead, usually twice a week.

 

[douglasnj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6555450#post6555450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sindjin
I havent done it in a few weeks thats why it was so bad.
In addition, Im running a filter sock on my secondary overflow while my primary directly feeds my skimmer. I chamge the sock every 2 days.

But I didnt just blow off the rocks. I also blew them out...sticking the end in various holes while pumping the baster.

I've been doing the same thing on my rock. I blow out all the holes and crevices very thoroughly, have been for a few weeks on some fairly new rock. Its starting to produce less and less waste and clouding. The filter sock is also a good idea.

 

[JB NY]

I use a turkey baster once a week for almost 5 years.

 

[DRZL-sauras]

I baste as well but have fragged things accidently when the baster decides to pop off, now I try to use a pump.

 

[MiddletonMark]

I use a turkey baster every week, sometimes a couple times a week.

At worst, I just move it around and maybe give the corals a little, at best, I export it.