Algea over took tank, should I acid wash the rock?

cr2jones · 11/30/2015, 10:22 AM

I had a 75 gallon tank that had been running for 2 years and i just could not get the algae under control. First the bryopsis then the hair algae. I have removed the Pukani rock and have bleached the rock. My questions is this should I do the acid bath too? i never had an issue with Phospates according to a Hana checker but phosphorous is hard to completely detect. Just looking for thoughts.

Thanks.

atraperegrinus · 11/30/2015, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cr2jones

I had a 75 gallon tank that had been running for 2 years and i just could not get the algae under control. First the bryopsis then the hair algae. I have removed the Pukani rock and have bleached the rock. My questions is this should I do the acid bath too? i never had an issue with Phospates according to a Hana checker but phosphorous is hard to completely detect. Just looking for thoughts.

Thanks.

if you had an overtaking of algae, you likely did have a phosphate issue i would assume, it was just all tied up in the algae itself. from my understanding anyway, someone more experienced will chime in shortly and correct me if i am wrong.

toothybugs · 11/30/2015, 10:58 AM

It was most likely getting sucked up by the algae before your checker could read it.

If the tank is already down, definitely acid wash it, though to break down the algae I would bleach it long and hard first. Let it dry for a day or two, or else wash it with hydrogen peroxide to neutralize any remaining Clorox, then hit it with acid.

A1t2o · 11/30/2015, 11:06 AM

If all the LR is out of the tank then you are going to have a cycle when you put the rock back in. I would do a large water change and get most of the crap that is in there out. If you have fish in the tank, then you are going to have to do this very carefully. I'm not sure if putting it all in at once or spreading it out would be better. You would probably want to use an ammonia remover during this process so you don't nuke your tank

If you only took out some of the LR and there are fish in the tank then add the rock back in bit by bit to avoid any spikes. Either way an acid bath and a power wash would be best to get all the crap off.

cr2jones · 12/01/2015, 08:21 AM

Acid Bath is done! I did have a sand bed in and the fish are in another small aquarium. I am planning on doing a 100% water change while cleaning the sand bed. Going to do my aquascaping better this time too. Thanks for the feed back!

cr2jones · 12/01/2015, 11:22 AM

hmmm, I put some of the rock in RO water over night and tested the water with a Hana checker, still .43.

11/30/2015, 10:22 AM	#1
cr2jones Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 56	Algea over took tank, should I acid wash the rock? I had a 75 gallon tank that had been running for 2 years and i just could not get the algae under control. First the bryopsis then the hair algae. I have removed the Pukani rock and have bleached the rock. My questions is this should I do the acid bath too? i never had an issue with Phospates according to a Hana checker but phosphorous is hard to completely detect. Just looking for thoughts. Thanks.

11/30/2015, 10:58 AM	#3
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	It was most likely getting sucked up by the algae before your checker could read it. If the tank is already down, definitely acid wash it, though to break down the algae I would bleach it long and hard first. Let it dry for a day or two, or else wash it with hydrogen peroxide to neutralize any remaining Clorox, then hit it with acid.

11/30/2015, 11:06 AM	#4
A1t2o Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 382	If all the LR is out of the tank then you are going to have a cycle when you put the rock back in. I would do a large water change and get most of the crap that is in there out. If you have fish in the tank, then you are going to have to do this very carefully. I'm not sure if putting it all in at once or spreading it out would be better. You would probably want to use an ammonia remover during this process so you don't nuke your tank If you only took out some of the LR and there are fish in the tank then add the rock back in bit by bit to avoid any spikes. Either way an acid bath and a power wash would be best to get all the crap off.

12/01/2015, 08:21 AM	#5
cr2jones Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 56	Acid Bath is done! I did have a sand bed in and the fish are in another small aquarium. I am planning on doing a 100% water change while cleaning the sand bed. Going to do my aquascaping better this time too. Thanks for the feed back!

12/01/2015, 11:22 AM	#6
cr2jones Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 56	hmmm, I put some of the rock in RO water over night and tested the water with a Hana checker, still .43.