cleaning rocks

Pensky · 03/31/2006, 04:32 PM

Is it ok to take rocks out of my tank and clean them with a toothbrush to clean some of the algea off? I am fighting some green algea and I really hate how it looks. I understand that this does not fix the problem, but it looks so much better.

HowardW · 03/31/2006, 04:40 PM

Well depending what life is on these rocks I would do a water change and put the old water in a shallow rubbermaid tub and then put the rocks in there and lightly brush off the algae while they are under water.

foob · 03/31/2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pensky
Is it ok to take rocks out of my tank and clean them with a toothbrush to clean some of the algea off? I am fighting some green algea and I really hate how it looks. I understand that this does not fix the problem, but it looks so much better.

Could buy some cleanup crew (snails,hermits) to clean it up. Less trouble and they help maintain it.

Pensky · 03/31/2006, 07:02 PM

i have quite a few cleaning critters, but it has been a long time since I had a skimmer running. I just installed the skimmer 3 days ago and I thought I would give it a fighting chance by cleaning up what is all ready there.

ezhoops · 03/31/2006, 08:15 PM

take it out and scrub it, I do it all the time. I even leave mine out for a day or two. Just don't remove all the rocks. Yeah some bacteria will die but so will the algae and then put it back and it will re-seed. Some may disagree with this but it works.

Pensky · 04/01/2006, 11:00 AM

anyone else ever done this befor?

infrared69 · 04/01/2006, 01:44 PM

i have . alage dies out of water, just do one rock at a time. i benifecial bacteral wont die, it just goes dormant. or i also put it in my sump for a week with no lighting. algae dies rock remains.

sanjosereefer · 04/01/2006, 04:15 PM

Yeah, I do it when a rock gets really annoyingly green. Usually I just let the tank "fix" itself. Haven't had any issues. As tempting as it is..don't scrub the rock inside the tank. It will just spread. I assume you already knew that...I learned the hard way.

03/31/2006, 04:32 PM	#1
Pensky Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Farmington, MO Posts: 335	cleaning rocks Is it ok to take rocks out of my tank and clean them with a toothbrush to clean some of the algea off? I am fighting some green algea and I really hate how it looks. I understand that this does not fix the problem, but it looks so much better.

03/31/2006, 04:40 PM	#2
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	Well depending what life is on these rocks I would do a water change and put the old water in a shallow rubbermaid tub and then put the rocks in there and lightly brush off the algae while they are under water. __________________ Florida live rock addict

03/31/2006, 08:15 PM	#5
ezhoops Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan Posts: 3,530	take it out and scrub it, I do it all the time. I even leave mine out for a day or two. Just don't remove all the rocks. Yeah some bacteria will die but so will the algae and then put it back and it will re-seed. Some may disagree with this but it works. __________________ "Keep your Friends Close, Your Anemones Closer" Current Tank Info: Working on 60 cube, sicce 3.0 return pump, 29 gal sump with fuge,Bubble Magnus NAC6 Skimmer, Aquaticlife 4 bulb T-5 VHO, 29gal Rare Clown breeding

04/01/2006, 01:44 PM	#7
infrared69 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: wyoming, pa Posts: 587	i have . alage dies out of water, just do one rock at a time. i benifecial bacteral wont die, it just goes dormant. or i also put it in my sump for a week with no lighting. algae dies rock remains. __________________ The quickest way to end a war is to lose it. Current Tank Info: 95g, 2x250w MH Phoenix 14K D/E, SLS Reef Optix III, BlueWave VII HQI Ballast, 55g Sump, ASM G-3 Skimmer, Red Sea 100mg Ozonizer Deluxe, Nilsen Reactor, Typhoon III RO/DI

03/31/2006, 07:02 PM	#4
Pensky Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Farmington, MO Posts: 335	i have quite a few cleaning critters, but it has been a long time since I had a skimmer running. I just installed the skimmer 3 days ago and I thought I would give it a fighting chance by cleaning up what is all ready there.

04/01/2006, 11:00 AM	#6
Pensky Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Farmington, MO Posts: 335	anyone else ever done this befor?

04/01/2006, 04:15 PM	#8
sanjosereefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Jose Posts: 55	Yeah, I do it when a rock gets really annoyingly green. Usually I just let the tank "fix" itself. Haven't had any issues. As tempting as it is..don't scrub the rock inside the tank. It will just spread. I assume you already knew that...I learned the hard way.