Using turkey baster on LR

[caneelbay89]

HA is finally starting to die. Yeah! Having been using a turkey baster to get dust, etc.., off the LR.

Is it okay to blast my LR once or twice a week? Is there such a thing as having your LR too clean? (Urchin poo seems to be a great HA fertilizer.)

I am running carbon in canister so the water does not remain cloudy.

Thanks for help.
Terri

 

[rustypixel]

I think many here will agree that a turkey baster is part of a reef-keepers toolbox. I use it once per week right before a water change.

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9520781#post9520781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustypixel
I think many here will agree that a turkey baster is part of a reef-keepers toolbox. I use it once per week right before a water change.

word.

 

[rafa316]

I never knew I needed one, now I will go to the store and get one

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

I suppose, I'll skip the hackneyed "did you know you need to put $100 in my paypal too?" comment.

 

[KJB32]

I agree. I blast the rocks b/4 a water change.

 

[reeftanker04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9520781#post9520781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustypixel
I think many here will agree that a turkey baster is part of a reef-keepers toolbox. I use it once per week right before a water change.

Excuse my ignorance but what does a baster do before a water change? Does it pick up crap from the bottom?

 

[eckrynock]

^
Use it to blow detritus off the rocks.

 

[taillonjohn]

is this normal maintenance that people do? I've never done this, or even heard of it till today.... should I start?

 

[mwwhite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9522563#post9522563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taillonjohn
is this normal maintenance that people do? I've never done this, or even heard of it till today.... should I start?

We also "gently" blow off the rocks before doing a water change. Every two weeks. Doing it at the same time as the water change helps remove all the "dust" as the water is draining....

Very much a part of good husbandry.

 

[Duddly01]

I blow off the rocks in my seahorse tank with a turkey baster before weekly water changes. There is not that much flow and no extra powerhead other than the return. I don't use one in my 50 gal. There is enough flow in my 50gal. that nothing that loose sticks to the rocks.

 

[mwitten]

Re: Using turkey baster on LR

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9520708#post9520708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by caneelbay89
HA is finally starting to die. Yeah! Having been using a turkey baster to get dust, etc.., off the LR.

Is it okay to blast my LR once or twice a week? Is there such a thing as having your LR too clean? (Urchin poo seems to be a great HA fertilizer.)

I am running carbon in canister so the water does not remain cloudy.

Thanks for help.
Terri

To answer the second half of your question... I don't think you can blow it off too often per se. That is what circulation does, ideally. Sticking your bare hand in the tank does tend to reduce skimming for a while (oils) and there may be other reasons not to mess with things too often, but.... When I have had a red algae bloom, I have blown the rock off once or twice a day, at least in spots.

A power head will also work for blowing off the rock, however you then have the electricity and water thing to keep in mind. I do that when I am doing a major cleaning, but the baster is my favorite (and about the cheapest) tool.

My two cents..

-Mike

 

[jimwat]

Using the turkey baster is just pushing the detritus into the water column so that it can be removed by your filtration. I can not image that you can remove to much detritus...so blast away!

 

[gistsc]

Yep, another $3 buck to the moneypit!

 

[DrBegalke]

I use an MJ that a move around the tank to do this... at least in my bare bottom system.

 

[bigfruits]

during water changes i do this and follow right behind with the siphon. youd be amazed how much comes off the rock if youve never tried it.

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

I am just generally in awe of how much dust gets cranked out from everything in the tank. every week I have a decent pile of dust gunk in the bottom of the siphon bucket.

 

[reeftanker04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9523143#post9523143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gistsc
Yep, another $3 buck to the moneypit!

LOL, nice.

 

[uscharalph]

My turkey baster gets a lot of use.

 

[lakwriter]

Best $3 tank tool ever!