Rock cooking, it does work.

[SeanT]

Lately I have become one of the biggest advocates of "cooking" rock to help clear up tanks of organics and algae problems.

I have been asked to provide some before and after pictures and finally took the after one's.

For those that would like a detailed description of what "cooking" your rocks is refer to this thread.
I assure you that no ovens or heat are used.

"Cooking" Rocks.

The hair algae depressed me so much I told myself that if it wasn't gone by the end of the year I was out of the hobby.

I researched like mad to find a way to rid myself of the HA.
It would have driven me out of the hobby for sure.

I used turbos, numerous fish, sea hares, pruning, extra carbon, ROWAphos, Phosban, Silphos, heavier skimmer, wetter skimming, more frequent water changes, larger water changes, decreased photoperiod, new bulbs, less-to-no feeding.

Nothing worked.

It was still there.
At times it looked like its growth would slow but it never receeded.

Then I found "cooking" rocks.

And it worked, just that simple.

On to the pictures.

 

[SeanT]

Before pictures.
All of these are from this Summer.

 

[SeanT]

And after pictures.
Thes were taken tonight.
Much of the rock has been back in for a month or more.
Some not as long.

 

[Fursphere]

How much did you "cook" at a time?

 

[SeanT]

They say the proof is in the pudding (whomever 'they' are).

Well here it is.

 

[scottfarcuz]

Im really interested to see how this works out long term.

I started my tank with about 90% base rock becuse I thought this might help eliminate some of the algea problems other people seem to have. Im at ~4 months and have yet to grow ANY pest algea other than the film on the glass in the display. It worried me for awhile because I was told over and over to expect several severe algea blooms. Im staring to see some nice coralline growth finally. I did however add macro to my fuge before my inital cycle had even ended and it has really taken off.

I havent added any fish yet either and at this point I may not ever add any. I would have to assume that has added to my (so far) success.

 

[SeanT]

How much did you "cook" at a time?

I took my rock out in 1/3rds.
About 2 weeks apart until it was all out of my tank and in the cooking tubs.

I did it this way in the hopes that my system would have more time to adjust to the change.
Plus, if anything negative happened (which nothing did) it would happen to a lesser degree than if I took them out all at once.
And I would have time to compensate.

 

[Treg]

Wheres the pics Sean?

I'm highly considering trying this.

 

[SeanT]

What would you like pics of?

More rockwork or anything else inparticular?

Sean

 

[Treg]

N/M

For some reason I couldnt see the After shots first time I viewed...

 

[SeanT]

lol np.

 

[BryanJ]

What about pieces that have corals attached? Will it kil the corals?

 

[SeanT]

Yes it will.
Remove them with a hammer and flathead.
Save as much as you can, trade, sell.
Don't worry the corals will grow back onto the rock.

 

[BryanJ]

I just got a refugium for Xmas so I am going to try that first and it that does not work I will cook them. Thanks for the information.

 

[Baalz]

How long was your tank up before you got the hair algae originally?

 

[SeanT]

Bob,

The majority of the rock was in my 75 before I moved it to my 180 and the rest I bought from the tanks of other reefers.
So, I would have to say that 2-1/2 years before it got out of control.
As I have said before, I believe I brought the majority of the problem on myself by overfeeding.

Thinking of giving it a try?

Sean

 

[Baalz]

No im not going to cook my rocks, I have no need to.
Nor should we see you always reccomending to do so, since you have only had your rock back in your tank for a month.
Your seeing a very short term success and after another 2.5 years and you dont have hair algae.. Then.. and only then.. would I consider it a success.

What are you going to say if in 6 months you have hair algae again?

 

[SeanT]

Nor should we see you always reccomending to do so

That's your opinon.
I respect it but totally disagree with it.
Rock "cooking" works.
I am not the only one who has done it and had it work.
However, I can't find ANYONE who has 'cooked' their rocks in the correctly defined method and not have it help their situation.

Your seeing a very short term success

Yes this is true statement.
However, only because I have been done for a 'very short term'.

and after another 2.5 years and you dont have hair algae.. Then.. and only then.. would I consider it a success.

No guarantees in this business.
If I overfeed, don't skim well enough, don't keep a cleanup crew up to strength, don't siphon out detrius, or any combo of these I may see hair algae again.

"Cooking" your rocks doe not, in ANY way, give you a Carte Blanche to do whatever the hell you feel like and not get algal blooms.
It removes the STORED waste.
If you replenish that waste then you will have algae again.
That's pretty simple.

What are you going to say if in 6 months you have hair algae again?

Scream.

 

[BIGBOB]

suppose I remove 1/3 of the LR from my aquarium to cook it. I place the 1/3 in after 2 months, and take another 1/3 out to cook it. So now, in the tank, 1/2 of the rock is cooked clean, and the other half is growing ramped with hair algae. Won't the hair algae re-infect the cooked rock?

 

[Fursphere]

I was thinking the same thing when I first read this thread.