Rock Cleaning Question

[Reggae Fish]

Well, I was thinking about getting out but have decided to stay. Sorry

Anyways, I've been neglecting my tank a bit since I've been working towards the 120.

Anyways, my rock has been covered with what looks to me like just brown detritus. A little bit of green algae and a little bit of bubble algae

Question is, what is the best method to fix this. I will be running 2 tanks side by side for a bit while I slowly switch stuff over. I will be using all new sand and getting a bit to seed. I was thinking about just throwing the rock in the new tank with the new water and skimmer and figured the skimmer, no lights, etc...would take care of it. I will also be doing in quick scrubbing and rinsing (in SW) before putting it in the new tank.

What do you think? Should I go a different route? Any suggestions on the ones with the RBTA's on them?

Thanks,
Justin

 

[JxMetal]

RBTA's are pretty hardy. and if you're weary of that idea just chip them off the rock.

 

[stlouisguy]

1. tank rock from tank
2. powerwash the crap out of it
3. put in new tank

Of course this doesnt work if the rock has life you want to save.

If you need help just ask since I live so far away LOL

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528238#post9528238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JxMetal
RBTA's are pretty hardy. and if you're weary of that idea just chip them off the rock.

There is no way I'm going to put them in a tank without light for a decent amount of time. I can pull them off, I don't need to chip them off.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528245#post9528245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
1. tank rock from tank
2. powerwash the crap out of it
3. put in new tank

Of course this doesnt work if the rock has life you want to save.

If you need help just ask since I live so far away LOL

Well I do want to save the life on it as I'm using new sand and all new water. Will some light scrubbing, picking the bubble algae off and not many nutrients in the water starve the algae? How long would that typically take?

 

[capncapo]

I'm sure that scrubbing will help to remove what may be on there currently.

As far as the ones with the RBTAs goes you might want to try to scrub the rock they're on while it's in the old tank. If you're worried about the RBTAs being in a dark tank just make sure to feed them well until the lights come on. They may lose a little color but will be fine otherwise and will recover after the lights come on.

 

[JxMetal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528272#post9528272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reggae Fish
There is no way I'm going to put them in a tank without light for a decent amount of time. I can pull them off, I don't need to chip them off.

I thought if you were going to wash the rock you weren't going to be blacking out the tank. I thought you said blacking out the tank was one option other than washing the rock.

Also, I didn't know if your rbta bases were manageable. Mine's about an inch and a half into the middle of a rock.

 

[billr]

Clean clean clean............

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528288#post9528288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capncapo
I'm sure that scrubbing will help to remove what may be on there currently.

As far as the ones with the RBTAs goes you might want to try to scrub the rock they're on while it's in the old tank. If you're worried about the RBTAs being in a dark tank just make sure to feed them well until the lights come on. They may lose a little color but will be fine otherwise and will recover after the lights come on.

I guess I can just scrub around them. I might try that. Any idea of the amount of time the rock with the junk on it in the new tank will take to go away. Ballpark

I run carbon and phosguard and it will be all new water.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528329#post9528329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JxMetal
I thought if you were going to wash the rock you weren't going to be blacking out the tank. I thought you said blacking out the tank was one option other than washing the rock.

Also, I didn't know if your rbta bases were manageable. Mine's about an inch and a half into the middle of a rock.

Sorry if that came off rude. It wasn't meant to sound like that but re-reading it, I think it came off wrong. I apologize if I sounded like a jerk.

I can get my finger down in there or an ice cube.

I think I'm just going to lightly wash the rock and put it in the new tank and hope for the best.

 

[capncapo]

Justin,

You might want to dump the Phosguard and get some Phosban. Phosguard will eventually leach the phosphates back into your water. Phosban won't.

To tell you the truth, I think it would take much longer for all of the algae to die off than you're willing to wait. You might want to read some of the threads on "cooking" your rock. Some of those guys waited for months!

Scrub it good, use the Phosban and have a good nutrient export plan in place. You should be OK by doing that.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528405#post9528405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capncapo
Justin,

You might want to dump the Phosguard and get some Phosban. Phosguard will eventually leach the phosphates back into your water. Phosban won't.

To tell you the truth, I think it would take much longer for all of the algae to die off than you're willing to wait. You might want to read some of the threads on "cooking" your rock. Some of those guys waited for months!

Scrub it good, use the Phosban and have a good nutrient export plan in place. You should be OK by doing that.

Thanks for the heads up. Will do.
I never had a problem with algae till I started neglecting it.

I figure , scrub a bit, no lights, new water, wet skimming, phosban reactor I should be ok. Would you agree?

 

[capncapo]

Yes.

Are you going to have a sump with some chaeto in there.? If so, that's about the best you can do.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9528482#post9528482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capncapo
Yes.

Are you going to have a sump with some chaeto in there.? If so, that's about the best you can do.

Yeah, I'll have cheato in the sump.

Thanks!

By the way, maybe a stupid question but do I want to scrub, dunk, etc... the rock in saltwater or do I want to do it in freshwater like a dip?

 

[capncapo]

Freshwater will kill the beneficial bacteria growing on your rock.

Personally, I would use saltwater. I'm not real keen on the idea of turning live rock into dead rock.

 

[capncapo]

One more thing I would do if it were my system would be to introduce your animals slowly just as is recommended for a new system.

Putting an animal or two ( at the most ) in your tank per week will give the bacteria populations some time to adjust to the added bioload and could prevent some problems for you in the future.

 

[nano7joy]

Turkey baster or powerful pump to loosen and remove detritus and a plastic bristled scrub brush to remove most anything u don't want to keep on the rock.

This wont remove everything but help to open up the surface of the rock allowing it to become more efficient. I would do it in the old tank allow things to settle then move after a good shake.

JJ