Rock cooking, it does work.

[SeanT]

Im not attacking the bb-ers, just looking for info. what was the problem with this BB tank to spur the algae to grow?

Hi,
The problem is most likely a combination of many things.
Let's break it down.
That reefers rock may be just full of organics and/or phosphorous and as it leeches out of the rock it is fueling the algal growth.
Also, inadequate filtration (eg. an underpowered skimmer) may be playing a part.
As well as, overfeeding, poor circulation to get the crud to the skimmer etc.

Two important things to remember:
1. Rock "cooking" is NOT just for BB tanks.
All tanks will benefit from it.

2. Just going BB won't solve ANYTHING unless you change your husbandry routines to what a BB tank needs (regular siphoning etc.) and outfit your system with the equipment to make managing your BB tank more efficiently (eg. great flow to lift waste off the bottom to your skimmer, and a powerful skimmer to process this waste.)

I hope this cleared things up a bit.

hth,
Sean

 

[poknsnok]

Id say those practices are good for ANY tank. Im gonna try the bb and see what I get. I think 46x per hour may be good flow... I have 2x6100 tunze and 1 tunze 6000 and 1200 gal loop i have a not so deep sand bed now and Im anal with my husbandry (ask my wife) Just cant seem to keep the nitrates at 0. even with an ev180 and ev120 running on the same tank.

Im gonna start suckin sand

 

[SeanT]

...and cook your rock?
Or at least some of it?

 

[NoSchwag]

Everytime time I dunk and swish, all I can think to myself is "I can't imagine having all of this crap in my tank".

 

[poknsnok]

there is NOTHING but coralline on my rock now. i have no algea on my Rock at all that i can see. im gonna "dunk and swish" but not "cook"...yet.... all i get in my "nsdsb" (not so deep sand bed) is a little algae on glass every 3 days

 

[SeanT]

The coraline covers up pores.
In these pores "caves" there ire nutrients.
The short term inconvenience is far outweighed by the long term benefits.
Coraline regrows.


Sean

 

[Bemmer]

Sean, from what I read, it appears that you pulled your LR out in three sections, over six weeks (two weeks at a time). It also looks like you still had fish in your tank. Where there any issues with pulling all your LR out with fish still in your tank? Also, did you switch to a BB tank after you took all the LR out of the tank?

Thanks.
Rebecca

 

[sherm71tank]

Hi SeanT! Just wanted to drop a THANK YOU! I ran across your cooking posts a few times. I also started having the worst HA problems in my reefing experience about the same time. I tried ozone and not feeding. AZ this and NO that. I changed more water in 3 months than I ever did! I got rid of my sand bed and cooked my rock. My tank has been algae free since. Thanks again for sharing!

 

[SeanT]

Sherm,
You are very welcome.

 

[SeanT]

Hi Rebecca,
I had no issues with the fish at all.
Those lazy bums didn't care.
My tank was ssb before the rock came out but that is when I got rid of it.
hth,
Sean

 

[Bemmer]

SeanT,
Thanks for your reply...twice (I got it on the other post too

So I started cooking my rock today. I am doing it in thirds, like you so I don't "shock" the system. Anyway, after I take all the rock out, can I syphon all the sand out and not hurt the fish? I guess I am afraid of a major spike in ammonia or phosphates or nitrates or something like that, which might be detrimental to the fish, inverts, anemone and a few mushrooms that will remain in the tank. Mind you, this will be over a six week period that I am taking the LR out. Sand come out last. Do I need another form of filtration (besides the skimmer) since I am taking the LR and LS out of the tank and going BB.

Also, do I need to reseed the LR after cooking it or is there still enough life on it that I can just put it back in the tank. Finally, can I put all the LR in the tank at once or do I put it in over a period of time?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[SeanT]

Hey Rebecca,
Are you are talking about removing the sand that is around and under the rock you are removing or the whole tank?

You can put the rock back in the tank.
There are puh-lenty of bacteria all over everything in there.
Plus, there is still bac on your cooking rocks,

Sean

 

[kimoyo]

Hi phrawd,
Was the rock completely dry before you started cooking it?
If so, I would take a small piece of lr from your tank to get the bacteria going.
The rock will cycle and cook at the same time.
If it was from your tank then disregard that step.

As for the algae, when the rock is done cooking ALL of the hair algae will be gone.
Completely...so long as you cook it right.

Sean

Hey Sean,
If I don't have any lr, what could I seed the base rock with? If I used stress zyme (or something you recommend) in the water would this seed the rock? Thanks.
Paul

 

[SeanT]

Paul,
I woul recommend getting a small piece of rock or a scoop of live sand from a fellow reefer or an LFS.
Sean

 

[kwjones]

Maybe a few lbs of rubble. It's usually cheaper than regular LR and you can use it for attaching frags to later.

 

[SeanT]

I wouldn't even go with a few lbs.
You need very little.
The bac will go forth and multiply quickly.

 

[kimoyo]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Jimnparadise]

Hi Sean

Thanks for the informative thread, it cleared up alot confusion on this topic for me.

Having gone tankless for about 5 years I am working on a new set up. I was all set to go with TBS rock when a local reefer offered me a good deal on some live rock that he has had cooking for a couple of months. At first my reaction was like woah! why would I want that dead stuff, its the life Im interested in, but after reading this thread I think I am getting a clearer picture of some of the benefits of "cooked" rock.

I am still curious however about what kinds of lifeforms will survive the cooking process if completed as you describe?

Im starting to think that there might really be an apple and orange issue here i.e. cook if you want a pristine tank for coral display but avoid cooking if you are looking for a more 'traditionally' diverse reef setup with a large variety of lifeforms.

But that sounds like too simplistic an analysis for all of this controversy. What am I missing?

Jim

 

[SeanT]

I am still curious however about what kinds of lifeforms will survive the cooking process if completed as you describe?

All types of pods, sponges and bacteria. And these are all good.

Im starting to think that there might really be an apple and orange issue here i.e. cook if you want a pristine tank for coral display but avoid cooking if you are looking for a more 'traditionally' diverse reef setup with a large variety of lifeforms.

No. "Cook" regardless of the type of system you want to have.
The substrate you use may come into play depending on the livestock you wish to have.

hth,
Sean

 

[arconom]

SeanT

I really can't wait until my new tank is up and ready to add my cooked rock. I will be taking tons of pictures.

It's hard to believe that so many sponges survive and multiply. It strange that I never had this many sponges at all. Actually only a few. Now when I do my weeky swish-a-roo cleaning they are all over.

I will make sure I get plenty of pictures.