rock cooking...?

[annamarie421]

Hi everybody -

We are upgrading our 75 to a 125, and I think I've decided to "cook" our rock before we transfer it to the new tank. Just FYI, if you've never heard the term, I'm talking about putting it in a dark tub of saltwater w/ a heater & a powerhead. No microwave or stove involved!

Have any of you tried it? How did it work for you?

Thanks,

Anna

 

[llebcire]

What are you trying to eliminate/accomplish?

 

[leeweber85]

It helps to eliminate unwanted algae.

 

[llebcire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9140970#post9140970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leeweber85
It helps to eliminate unwanted algae.

I would assume that aptasia/xenia/anthelia/various sps/zoos/shrooms or any other "pests" would survive?

 

[leeweber85]

they shouldnt if you do it for a couple months.

 

[Covey]

I cooked like 75% of my rock at the tank switch. Worked good killed off the hair algae that was on the rock. That and some other methodology changes the hair algae never came back.

 

[annamarie421]

Glad to hear that it worked for you Covey! How long did the process take for you?

I'm doing it with the intent of killing off hair algae, and getting rid of accumulated detritus. I'm hoping that this will give me a chance to get the rock cleaned up, and then through good husbandry maintain it. I'm planning to eliminate some unwanted mushrooms & polyps during the process as well (will use kalk paste like you would to kill aptasia).

Has anybody else around here tried it?

Thanks,
Anna

 

[Covey]

I did it for a month and a half. You should do it until the rocks stop shedding detritus at the water changes.

The hair algae was dead in the first week but if you really want to clean the rock it is best to do it longer.

 

[annamarie421]

I'm definitely planning to give it as long as it takes! The amount of detritus on/in our rock is unbelievable. Did you just do water changes weekly as recommended, and twice weekly "dunk & swish"? I've been looking at threads from Sean T & Bomber, and was planning to follow that advice to a "T".

Thanks!
Anna

 

[Covey]

SeanT thread is the best plan of attack. That is what I followed.

 

[annamarie421]

Thanks Covey!

 

[acidlittle]

I cooked my rock this summer, and had mushrooms survive, along with aptasia. I think I had it cooking for seriously about 4 months. Found a boatload of little stars though! And probably the largest copepod i've ever seen!

Hair algea was gone in a matter of days. Everything else survived. Even bubble algea

 

[annamarie421]

Did you follow Sean T's method too acidlittle? Fortunately I don't have any bubble algae or aptasia - just hair algae & bryopsis. Now that I've just said that I'm sure I'll have some pop up though. Pretty amazing how resiliant mushrooms are...

Anna