Removing liverock

[Benjamin.]

Today I'm thinking of removing most to all of my liverock from my tank as well as the sandbed due to masses of hair algae. It's taken over all the rocks and going up the back of the tank. I only have a yellow tang, algae blenny, pyjama wrasse and two clowns for livestock and various corals. My idea is to remove the corals from the rocks and then remove the liverock. I haven't decided on the sandbed yet as I think I will decide once the rocks out.

My questions is, what's the best way to remove it to cause the least pollution to the water? Obviously Il be doing a substantial water change afterwards, I'm just wondering what the best way to do it is

Benjamin.

 

[MondoBongo]

are you removing it to clean it and then putting it back in, or just removing it all together?

that's a substantial portion of your bio filter, so whenever i remove rock, i tread carefully, and usually only take out a small amount at a time, and wait several days in between removals.

rather than removing it entirely, if that is what you're doing, have you thought about a multi-pronged attack to mitigate it? we all go through algae cycles and battles, but they can be overcome.

 

[Benjamin.]

Well, there isn't much point in me cleaning it then putting back in as the algae spreads very quickly and there is no guarantee that I can actually remove all the algae.

Im turning it into a kind of temporary frag tank as I will be setting another tank up soon in the new house so will be transferring everything to that once it's ready. The less that's in the tank come moving day, the better it will be as I only have one day to move everything and the tank.

Benjamin.

 

[MondoBongo]

chances are they if you remove the rocks, the algae will just find somewhere else to grow unless you can address the root cause.

still, if you want to remove, i would go in small batches every few days, to allow the existing bio filter to resize on other surfaces appropriately.

are you planning on killing the rock off entirely, i.e. letting it dry or other? or possibly putting it in a different container with no light, and a heater/powerhead to try to kill off the algae?

 

[Benjamin.]

I think the source is the rocks. I don't think they were properly cured when I bought them and have been leeching since. I'm not sure.

Yea, my plan is to stick them in a container with no light ect and just kill it off. Then, when it comes to setting up the new tank, I can use it again.

Benjamin.

 

[reefgeezer]

The rock will likely leach nutrients (phosphates) in your new set-up even after the algae dies off due to lack of light. You could remove it in small batches, do the acid batch thing. You would need to cycle it again, but, IMO, that's not really a big deal.

 

[scooter31707]

Have you tried GFO?

 

[Benjamin.]

I haven't used GFO, but I will be next time. Right, the plan is to take the rocks out, stick them in a container full of water ect and kill the algae off. Then, when I use them in the next tank, run GFO to bind any phosphates being leached (if that's what the problem is)

Sound like a plan?

Benjamin.

 

[nuxx]

Just acid wash the rocks nice and good.

Then cure. Should help remove a lot of the organics.

You'd be shocked how much came off our super clean looking dry rock during the acid wash...

 

[Benjamin.]

Would you be able to give me a run down of what I need for it?

Benjamin.

 

[nuxx]

Would you be able to give me a run down of what I need for it?

Benjamin.

Plastic tub and muriatic acid used for pools.

Do a 10:1 ratio of water to acid.

ADD WATER FIRST THEN ACID!

I also had powerheads running in the solution.

Let soak for a few hours. Pull out and rinse with RODI also maybe add some Prime and let dry in the sun.

 

[Benjamin.]

Thank you, I will give that a try after I attempt to kill of the hair algae using the light source method. Only because, I would ideally like to keep my rock alive if possible. If it fails, Il be ready with the ACID and just kill it all

Benjamin.

 

[hkgar]

I battled GHA for over four months. A month ago I dig a complete scrub of all rock. I first did the powerheads and return equipment that had GHA

I did the scrub over 3 days (180 gallon and 100 lbs of rock). I removed 1/3 each day and scrubbed with a plastic brush. Sprayed with Hydrogen Peroxide and let set for about five minutes then a salt water rinse and returned to tank. I haven't had a bit of algae since, but I have also started using an Algae Turf Scrubber.

If you have any Zoa's on your rock, be very careful. Here is my encounter with Zoas while scrubbing.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2499316