JCole's box of rocks
- Thread starter JCOLE
- Start date
Thanks, George! Working on plumbing this weekend and currently, I feel 30 years older...
Leave it fresh and get cichlids! JK. Looks great.
Looks great!
Against my original plan of not adding any of my existing rock to the new system, I am now thinking of doing that. I have some live rock coming from the keys next week, so I wanted some opinions on this.
My current rock has been established for around 5 or so years. Started off dry, and I have dosed Cipro, Chemiclean, Fluconazole, Vibrant, Bayer, and Ivermectin through that time frame. The existing rock has bubble algae and aiptasia, which I know will be next to impossible to ultimately avoid, but I would like to if I can help it.
I have heard of others dipping their rocks in kalkwasser to kill all life on the outside of the rocks but preserve bacteria on the inside. I was thinking of scraping off all bubble algae and removing corals, then giving them a bath in kalkwasser.
What does everyone think of that idea? Is it worth it to help seed my tank with bacteria, or should I just add the rock from the keys and move on? If it is worth giving them a bath in kalkwasser, then does anyone have an idea on strength and for how long?
My current rock has been established for around 5 or so years. Started off dry, and I have dosed Cipro, Chemiclean, Fluconazole, Vibrant, Bayer, and Ivermectin through that time frame. The existing rock has bubble algae and aiptasia, which I know will be next to impossible to ultimately avoid, but I would like to if I can help it.
I have heard of others dipping their rocks in kalkwasser to kill all life on the outside of the rocks but preserve bacteria on the inside. I was thinking of scraping off all bubble algae and removing corals, then giving them a bath in kalkwasser.
What does everyone think of that idea? Is it worth it to help seed my tank with bacteria, or should I just add the rock from the keys and move on? If it is worth giving them a bath in kalkwasser, then does anyone have an idea on strength and for how long?
This
I agree with John. I’d add the keys rock and move on. I’ve never heard of the kalkwasser thing before
I'm guessing the kalk idea is to have ridiculously high PH and nuke the vermin, but I wouldn't be surprised if some aiptasia cells could survive. I'd say you could probably do the same thing with sodium hydroxide (Lye) with a bit more violent effect but still not convinced aiptasia couldn't survive. Berghia is the only way IMO. I suppose you could chisel a solid inch off the rock and use the core for the bacteria if that's all you were after (throw it in the sump for good measure). If it's because the pieces are nice, acid wash the pieces you think are great and add them with your new keys rock would be my suggestion.
Not sure why but, this cracked me up.
it's like taco bell for aiptasia.
That's what I am leaning towards. I have a buddy who dips his rocks in kalkwasser to kill everything but keep the inside living. If I do use them down the rock maybe in a crypic fuge.
Yes, the high pH nukes the outside while keeping the inside alive. Although, I don't trust the pests I have to die so I probably wont use the rocks. They are nothing special.
Maybe a calcium hydroxide dip then a sodium hydroxide dip.
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