Should I replace this rock, clean it or just use it?

[DirtinLa]

I am aquiring this tank next weekend and it is basically lifeless... a few hermits and snails and a sand star... girl currently keeps the lights off.

The rocks and tank are covered with vermetid snail tubes with living snails in them...

Should I try and treat it biologically with wrasse, crabs and shrimp?

Should I bleach, acid and wire brush the thorns off?

Should I just leave everything like it is... NO I WILL NOT!

Help please

thanx in advance as always

-=Fred=-

 

[Xavibear]

The tank is not lifeless if it is supporting filter feeders, vermatid snails. I would use the rock. With good husbandry, the snails should reduce over time. I don't know of any predators that will eat vermatid snails.

 

[DirtinLa]

Will the thorns go away as the snail population reduces?

 

[Xavibear]

They did for me.

 

[syngraves]

if the thorns dont go away as the population dies off you can always use a knife or other tool to pop them off the rock. I am currently going through a bloom and have to clean them out of my pumps and off my heater...

 

[shesacharmer]

Before you put the rocks into the tank you can crush the thorns and put a dab of super glue over each hole that you can't pop completely off the rock. That will keep them from re-occurring as the actual snail is in the base of the tube. You either have to remove the whole tube or block the entrance to kill the snail. They can get a bit out of control as you've seen.

 

[DirtinLa]

We are going to acid the rocks... will let you know if tubes dissapear