I'm about a month and a half into my first tank. Had an experienced reefer help me start out with live rock, live sand, bacteria in a bottle, etc. Got a fairly bad case of hair algae on 3 pieces of rock. He said that it would be easier to just take them out and let them sit for a few weeks to kill off the algae. Is taking it out of the tank enough? I've had it sitting in my cold, dark garage, should it be out in the sun? Thanks in advance.
Killing Live Rock
- Thread starter jhawksoon
- Start date
No. Oh, dear, no. Put it back in your tank, poor thing. Just run GFO and be patient. I don't recommend bacteria-in-a-bottle. Just quit messing with your rock. You're SUPPOSED to have hair algae at this point. Read the sticky on how to set up which is at the top of this forum: hair is just a stage, and there will be many of them. It wouldn't live a week in a mature tank.
Well, too late I guess, it has been sitting out for 3 weeks now, and I scrubbed it. I've read about people that have poured boiling water over their rock, and even baking it in the oven. The latter seems a little extreme. I guess I will put it back in over the weekend, if no one else has any suggestions.
ow. Too bad to lose that quality rock. If it has a good shape, however, it might be useful.
But if you have an algae problem, there are two biggest helps---a GFO reactor and a fuge. Takes a while (iron makes a lousy sponge and doesn't react all that quickly), but it will get it if you just keep at it. All rock and sand comes with phosphate embedded: salt water leaches that out, and the algae just loves it, which is why you get that initial algae bloom. Eventually it's spent all the phosphate and the bloom is over.
But if you have an algae problem, there are two biggest helps---a GFO reactor and a fuge. Takes a while (iron makes a lousy sponge and doesn't react all that quickly), but it will get it if you just keep at it. All rock and sand comes with phosphate embedded: salt water leaches that out, and the algae just loves it, which is why you get that initial algae bloom. Eventually it's spent all the phosphate and the bloom is over.
Why do you think you had HA in the first place?
Do you think it is possible the cause of the HA is still there and if you return the rock to the aquarium will the problem return?
Also there is a difference between cooking rock and putting it in the oven to cook.
Justincase someone is reading this there are methods of cleaning your rock through dark outs to clean the rock.
Also if you put wet rock in the oven:
1. make sure your wife is not home because of the potential smell.
2. Don't put wet rock in the oven because the water can expand causing issues.
Do you think it is possible the cause of the HA is still there and if you return the rock to the aquarium will the problem return?
Also there is a difference between cooking rock and putting it in the oven to cook.
Justincase someone is reading this there are methods of cleaning your rock through dark outs to clean the rock.
Also if you put wet rock in the oven:
1. make sure your wife is not home because of the potential smell.
2. Don't put wet rock in the oven because the water can expand causing issues.
1. set out to dry.
2. put in a bucket of freshwater and leave.
3. cold.
4. bleach.
5. vinegar or muric acid (but that has safety concerns).
any will work.
The acid can help with the bound up PO4 though.
2. put in a bucket of freshwater and leave.
3. cold.
4. bleach.
5. vinegar or muric acid (but that has safety concerns).
any will work.
The acid can help with the bound up PO4 though.
Angel*Fish
cats and large squashes
If the algae was limited to several rocks, it may have been bryopsis. I used to recommend tossing out bryopis rock or killing it as you're doing. But now we know bryopsis can be eliminated by managing magnesium levels.
If its been out for 3 weeks its dead already.
mattsummers
New member
not really i have left rock in the sun for 6 months, put back in and hair algae come back within a week. only rock in system with algae. add peroxide to fresh water and soak for a weak. then rinse well and recycle, not in your tank.
sasharotty
Moved on to my couch
Always gives fantastic advice!
The problem isn't that the rock is not "dead." It is what is coming out of the rock when it is in your tank (or any water). Phosphates and possibly nitrates get drawn out of your rock when it is in your tank. The hair algae uses phosphates and nitrates to grow, so it grows on the rock that is leaching it. Pouring boiling water, baking it, or leaving it out in the cold will kill the life on the rock, but all the phosphates will stay in it. Your best bet is leaving the rock in water (fresh or salt) for a month or two. Keep it heated with a powerhead. Keep the rock dark, and do water changes every 3 or 4 days. This will draw the phosphates out of the rock and should help.
Like was said earlier though, hair algae is just a normal part of a cycle. 99% of tanks get it. Just pull it out when it grows, set up a fuge, or keep doing water changes.
Like was said earlier though, hair algae is just a normal part of a cycle. 99% of tanks get it. Just pull it out when it grows, set up a fuge, or keep doing water changes.
Best answer so far. Thank you, very informative.
