Rock Cleaning Question

[55FOWLR]

Hi everyone, I have a 55 gallon FOWLR tank and have a question about the rocks in it. I started my tank almost a year ago, ran into some difficulties, but everything has been going well for the last couple months. I am even starting to see some coralline algae growth on some rocks which I've heard is a good sign? But I miss the clean look of having new white rocks in the tank. Is there any way to clean the rocks and turn them white again? I'm been looking for a couple days and some people say to take out the rock and use some bleach, some say i dont have to. I was just wondering what the best method is and if either of them would turn the rocks white again or just clean off the bad bacteria?

PS. I would only do this on the rocks without coralline algae since that is supposed to be good, and they are originally started as dry rock from my local fish store which is why they were white.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[Diana A]

If you clean it or bleach it, you will lose your filter. Live rock becomes the main biological nitrification base or biological filter of a saltwater aquarium, while at the same time enhances the look of the aquarium and provides shelter for the inhabitants.

 

[Pond Boy]

Pics would help.... Never use bleach in any fish or reef environment. You can use vinegar to turn the rock back to the dead bleached state all good bacteria will be lost as well . Most reef keepers like the rocks coated with coraline algae it's a good sign that it's growing if it is indeed coraline.

 

[Diana A]

Pics would help.... Never use bleach in any fish or reef environment.

That is wrong. You can bleach items used in your aquarium. Once you bleach it, sodium thiosulfate or vinegar bath, and rinse with RODI water and then let it sit outside for 24 hours for the bleach to evaporate

 

[mcgyvr]

So do you want white rocks or do you want coralline covered rocks (because if you let it grow then all rocks will be covered in it/purple/pink,etc...)

I have an urchin to keep my rocks basically free of coralline (I don't like the look and actually think it hurts surface area for denitrification over time)
But my rocks aren't "white" anymore.. They are more of a "grayish" color now and will stay that way..

Yes you can bleach/muriatic acid/vinegar,etc.... but its going to be an endless maintenance battle for you and you will loose bacteria in that process.. But you can do one every couple days,etc.. and the bacterial loss shouldn't be an issue and will recover on the "clean rock".. But its just a losing battle really as "white" is not what it will stay.. Be happy with "natures new color" be that coralline or not..

Now if your rock is "green" then that can be taken care of by lowering nitrates/phosphates..

 

[CrayolaViolence]

Sea urchins eat coralline algae. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to remove it for you.

 

[SALTYwaterDOG]

So do you want white rocks or do you want coralline covered rocks (because if you let it grow then all rocks will be covered in it/purple/pink,etc...)

I have an urchin to keep my rocks basically free of coralline (I don't like the look and actually think it hurts surface area for denitrification over time)
But my rocks aren't "white" anymore.. They are more of a "grayish" color now and will stay that way..

Yes you can bleach/muriatic acid/vinegar,etc.... but its going to be an endless maintenance battle for you and you will loose bacteria in that process.. But you can do one every couple days,etc.. and the bacterial loss shouldn't be an issue and will recover on the "clean rock".. But its just a losing battle really as "white" is not what it will stay.. Be happy with "natures new color" be that coralline or not..

Now if your rock is "green" then that can be taken care of by lowering nitrates/phosphates..

Giant +1 get a urchin but you will need to supplement feeding

 

[Pond Boy]

That is wrong. You can bleach items used in your aquarium. Once you bleach it, sodium thiosulfate or vinegar bath, and rinse with RODI water and then let it sit outside for 24 hours for the bleach to evaporate

I may have a low post count but have been in the hobby for a long time... Do what you like me I would never do that to LR...:thumbdown

 

[55FOWLR]

Pics would help.... Never use bleach in any fish or reef environment. You can use vinegar to turn the rock back to the dead bleached state all good bacteria will be lost as well . Most reef keepers like the rocks coated with coraline algae it's a good sign that it's growing if it is indeed coraline.

The first pictures is what im assuming is coralline algae on the rock and the second one is what most of the rocks look like.

 

[55FOWLR]

Sea urchins eat coralline algae. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to remove it for you.

Those actually look really cool and look like the best thing to do based on the responses. Guessing from the pictures i just put out, I would probably only need one right?

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Yes. Get an Urchin and watch it grow!