Is it Really Necessary To Blow Off Live Rock?

[PatMayo]

Is it really necessary to blow off your live rock? I hear that some folks use turkey basters and others use powerheads.

If it is necessary what is the formula? Weekly, monthly, every oher month? What is the long term benefit and what are the consequences for not doing it?

Regards,

Pat

 

[iCam]

I just did it everytime I did a water change. I would stir the detritus up into the water column (with a powerhead of turkey baster), then siphon out what I could. I would also hook up my canister filter to suck the rest out.

 

[Andrew]

I just do it when ever is get dirty. Most of the time I only have to do it once or twice a month.

 

[IslandCrow]

If you have good water flow and a healthy supply of detritus eaters, I bet it isn't all that necessary. Like iCam, I point my powerheads at the rocks about once a week when I do my water changes. In the ocean, the tides usually do a good job keeping detritus from building up. I figure in an aquarium, it may start running out of places to go.