brushing rock out of tank while cycling okay?

sebrofjr · 06/05/2009, 10:21 AM

I'm into my 3rd week of cycling my new 90g with 60lbs live, 50 lbs base. A week ago I took out some rock that had some heavy detrius on it and scrubbed it with a toothbrush in a bucket of old SW that I took out for a water change. I wanted to do this again as some of the rock I didn't scrub now has some die-off on it. The only thing though now, is there is life on it as well (some small feather dusters, and sponges).

Would it be okay to repeat the scrubbing process this weekend when I do a small water change? I prefer to do it this way than in the tank as I have sand in already and I don't want all that crap building up in the tank when I clean it. My levels have been steady lately a 0 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 20 ish Nitrate.

thanks,

BeanMachine · 06/05/2009, 10:53 AM

Just use a turkey baster to blow off the rock. I don't think there is a need to remove from the display. Let your filtration do the work. You are going to see diatoms (brown & stringy) in a new tank, along with some algae that will compete in the system.

Don't worry about the sand bed. Its going to get a little dirty at first, but it will pass.

Get some snails and let them do the labor.

06/05/2009, 10:21 AM	#1
sebrofjr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Posts: 228	brushing rock out of tank while cycling okay? I'm into my 3rd week of cycling my new 90g with 60lbs live, 50 lbs base. A week ago I took out some rock that had some heavy detrius on it and scrubbed it with a toothbrush in a bucket of old SW that I took out for a water change. I wanted to do this again as some of the rock I didn't scrub now has some die-off on it. The only thing though now, is there is life on it as well (some small feather dusters, and sponges). Would it be okay to repeat the scrubbing process this weekend when I do a small water change? I prefer to do it this way than in the tank as I have sand in already and I don't want all that crap building up in the tank when I clean it. My levels have been steady lately a 0 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 20 ish Nitrate. thanks,

06/05/2009, 10:53 AM	#2
BeanMachine Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 11,200	Just use a turkey baster to blow off the rock. I don't think there is a need to remove from the display. Let your filtration do the work. You are going to see diatoms (brown & stringy) in a new tank, along with some algae that will compete in the system. Don't worry about the sand bed. Its going to get a little dirty at first, but it will pass. Get some snails and let them do the labor.