live rock replacement

[Mike de Leon]

Hi All,

I haven't been happy with the used LR I have put in my tank. It seems it continues to leach unwanted stuff. Most of the lr has the black algae growth. My phosphates almost read 0 and yet have this growth. I have introduced a couple of pieces of fiji that i got from my lfs and has kept clear. So i will replace all of it.
Is there anything that is more beneficial to acros? I have been looking at the caribsea liferock.
any thoughts on this?
Thanks

 

[Jason9488]

I used Caribsea in my 90 gallon and love that rock. If you want live rock, Tampa Bay saltwater is a great option.

 

[Jsarrow]

KP Aquatics has excellent LR.

 

[reefmutt]

Marco Rock is a decent LR alternative.
Come in either rocks, flat slabs or slices.
Not very cheap however. But clean.
What does the Black algea look like?
Maybe your po4 reads 0 because the algea is happily consuming it all..
Maybe you just need more algea eaters..

 

[Mike de Leon]

Thanks folks. I will take a pic Matt. I have other issues like alk swings that prevent even corraline growth and SPS encrusting. It’s weird, because I have growth on SPS.

 

[reefmutt]

Why alk swings? How do you control alk?

 

[Mike de Leon]

I have a calcium reactor. I have recently raised the PH to 7.2 and had a steady flow on the affluent. Saw the video on this. So far, after two days of testing it’s been steady. Alk is high at 10.5 but steady. Calcium at 400. Where are yours at?

 

[reefmutt]

I have a calcium reactor. I have recently raised the PH to 7.2 and had a steady flow on the affluent. Saw the video on this. So far, after two days of testing it's been steady. Alk is high at 10.5 but steady. Calcium at 400. Where are yours at?

Wow, that's a pretty high alk!
Mine has been fairly steady around 7.. it's where I try to keep alk. My ca is around 410 atm.
I also run a steady stream out of my reactor... runs better I find.

 

[biecacka]

Agree with he steady stream from the reactor. Less clogging usually and that makes me happy. As far as clean rocks go, I bleached mine, then put em in an acid bath for a few minutes. Then cured them for months while GEO was building my tank. Been really lucky with that method so far, but I know not everyone can do that due to the time involved.

Corey

 

[Mike de Leon]

How can I lower my alk? As I lower the ph to get higher calcium the alk goes up? Also I’m thinking too much CO2 is going into the main display and could be causing some algae to grow.

 

[reefmutt]

You could add another chamber filled with crushed coral for the affluent of the ca reactor to flow through before it goes to your system.. that will absorb a bit more CO2..
But I wouldn’t worry too much about excess CO2 when your only running your reactor at a ph 7.2..
As for lowering alk while using a ca reactor, you should turn it off temporarily and only manually dose a balanced calcium supplement until alk drops down to the 7 range, then, once ca and alk are in the proper ratio, re start the ca reactor.
A ca reactor will generally maintain whatever parameters already exist in a system. It is always adding both ca and alk so you have to manually balance your ca/alk ratio first and then let the ca reactor maintain that balance after that. But this is why regular testing is necessary- in case the balance shifts and you have to intervene manually for a while.

 

[reefmutt]

Do you ever test strontium or magnesium?
I’d be curious to see those numbers as well with your very high alk..
And just out of curiosity, what is your nitrate level?
Your no corraline and alk swing issues may just be related to mineral and nutrient imbalances in the tank..

 

[Mike de Leon]

My mag is 1350. I don’t test for strontium. My nitrate won’t register.

 

[reefmutt]

Ok.. so mag is good..
So the nasty algea is consuming all nutrients..
I’m not trying to convince you to keep your live rock.. if you want to change it that’s fine.. just seems like a lot of work. And expense..
Have you tried an army of a clean up crew? Urchins, snails, hermits, Sea hares? Tangs, rabbitfish, blennies?
Maybe you could have the same results by spending money on a clean up crew instead of on new rock.... which wil still need a clean up crew of some sort..

 

[Mike de Leon]

Thanks for your input Matt. Seems this hobby really has a lot pitfalls. Need to be really patient.
I have a couple of turbos but will invest on a crew. I will also change out my media in the calcium reactor. It’s starting to mush just a little. Been there for a while.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks for your input Matt. Seems this hobby really has a lot pitfalls. Need to be really patient.
I have a couple of turbos but will invest on a crew. I will also change out my media in the calcium reactor. It's starting to mush just a little. Been there for a while.

Patience... indeed.
I have to do my ca reactor as well.. or at least top it up..
Just make sure you get a good variety of algae grazers. They may not all eat the type of algae you have....
Maybe your turbos don't like it and graze mainly on the new pieces of rock you have- that's why they seem to stay clean when nothing else does..
Keep us posted.