Holy Crap!

[Str8linespeed]

Sorry but I mean it!

I ran across a thread about using a turkey baster or your power head and aiming it at your rock work to blow the fish crap off of the rocks. I took a look at my rocks and they looked cleaned, but I figured I would grab the turkey baster and give it a try.

I could not believe the amount of crap that was stuck in the holes and crevices of the rocks. I noticed my Nitrates climbing a little but I was unsure why. Even with my WC's. My tank is pretty cloudy now and Im going to have to clean out my filter pad a couple of times by nights end.

So for the newb's like me out there. I think this is a very good thing to do periodically. Im not sure how often, whether it be once a month or once a week, perhaps someone more experienced can shed some light on that. Just thought I would share my experience.

 

[TokiHacker]

Pretty cool to know. Thanks for the post.

 

[Sk8r]

This is a good reason to have bristleworms in your cleanup crew. There are places they can go that nothing else can reach. They multiply to match your feeding habits (if you have too many, that's why) and decline in food shortage. I lost all mine in a prolonged powerout (saved my corals and fish) and trekked down to the lfs to beg some.

 

[Str8linespeed]

This is a good reason to have bristleworms in your cleanup crew. There are places they can go that nothing else can reach. They multiply to match your feeding habits (if you have too many, that's why) and decline in food shortage. I lost all mine in a prolonged powerout (saved my corals and fish) and trekked down to the lfs to beg some.

+1

The plus side I do have a bunch of bristle worms in my tank. Of course unsure of how many, but when the lights are out. I can see them crawling on all the rocks.

 

[Sk8r]

Good. They'll get into holes and crevices. Your live rock may also have had a little dieoff that hasn't cleared yet. Also--maintain VERY strong flow. I'm using a Gyre at 75% on my 105 gallon wedge, which shoots a circular top to bottom to top flow through the rocks, which is a cure for 'dead spots'. If you're not getting a lot of flow through your rockwork, that's future problems.

 

[Str8linespeed]

To describe my tank (small avatar). I have my main return pump blowing behind my rocks. I have my secondary return pump aimed at the surface. I have one large power head, aimed towards the top center of the tank to create turbulance against the main pump and to direct water towards the overflow. My corals all across the bottom wave and flow pretty good. Corals mid tank and top have fair amount of movement. I did try a 2nd power head, opposite side, but it was laying some of the corals over flat and appeared to be to much flow.

 

[rajilnaja]

Good. They'll get into holes and crevices. Your live rock may also have had a little dieoff that hasn't cleared yet. Also--maintain VERY strong flow. I'm using a Gyre at 75% on my 105 gallon wedge, which shoots a circular top to bottom to top flow through the rocks, which is a cure for 'dead spots'. If you're not getting a lot of flow through your rockwork, that's future problems.

mmm that sweet gyre goodness, I'm going to pounce on that icecap knock off that showed up recently. The turkey baster method is getting tiresome. :lol:

 

[jlmawp]

A good practice is to blow the crud off of the rocks with all pumps and powerheads off, let it settle on the sand, then siphon all that stuff up in your next water change. Some serious detritus and nutrient export

 

[sde1500]

Yea I move a powerhead around the tank once every 3rd water change or so, insane the amount of stuff that can kick up. And my tank has a small army of bristle worms too. One startlingly large one I saw last night, easy foot long.

 

[Fish finder]

will bristle worms come on live rock from the LFS?

 

[Str8linespeed]

Yes, definitely a possibility!

 

[dmarkham]

Bristle worms are so helpful and get such a bad rep.