will LR ever really get clean?

jag911 · 06/20/2006, 08:42 PM

I have had LR in my tank for 43 days now.. seems like every time i move it tons of dust/dirt fly's off and into the water. Then the sand is dirty, the plants get dirtly, the glass get's dirty... etc etc etc.

does the LR ever "get clean" or does it continuously get coated with, well, crap.

angelsj247 · 06/20/2006, 08:45 PM

hmm not sure was thinking bout this earlier.. my live rock is soo dusty with crap also. i blow it with a turkey baster every day usually or at least every other and there still is so much crap on there.

Sk8r · 06/20/2006, 08:57 PM

Crap is usual---but you have more of it than you need. Turkey baster it off into the water column and run a little blue/white filter medium. If that won't get it, run 1 micron pad, and that will. I'm not generally into cleaning too much---stuff floats around my tank left and right, and feeds the critters; but this fine dusty stuff is a PITA.

IslandCrow · 06/20/2006, 09:27 PM

Make sure you're getting enough water flow. I use a turkey baster to blow water on my rocks once a week to kick up anything that's gathered on it, but it's really just stuff that's down in the cracks. I generally don't see any noticable amount of detritus on my rocks between cleanings. In general, I'd say my live rock is in fact pretty clean.

s2svetko · 06/20/2006, 10:06 PM

good idea with the turkey baster..

jag911 · 06/21/2006, 08:45 PM

Hmm, I've been using the turkey baster idea about once a week or so. What I don't like is the "settling" that occurs back onto plants, or the rocks, or the sand, or the glass, or the ... everything.

Then I feel like I have to do it again to get the stuff I stirred up off the rocks...

But, I guess the filters all get *very* dirty (doing their job), so it has some effect... maybe I'm just not doing it enough. Thanx for the help everyone!

IslandCrow · 06/21/2006, 09:39 PM

You really shouldn't need to break out the turkey baster too often. Like I said, I do it about once a week, and I'm not concerned if I miss a week or even too. I don't have plants, but I do have corals, and they don't seem to have anything building up on them. What do you have for water circulation. I'm really thinking you may either need to increase your flow or rearrange it a bit and you shouldn't have nearly the problem you seem to be having. My father's tank has a problem with settling detritus, but he just has one powerhead going, and I think that one's on its last leg.

MDboyz · 06/22/2006, 12:04 AM

I do this every week when I do water change. I use the small power head to blow the dirt of rocks and siphon them out.

WNTITAL · 06/22/2006, 07:10 AM

I have the same problem. I have a ton of crap on my rocks. I found that you will never get rid of it all, but I can suggest this. I have tried putting a filter sock or filter pad in the overflow for a day or two and it seem to help once I stirred the tank up. Also don't leave it in to long, bad things can grow and cause a bigger problem. If you need to leave it longer take it out and rinse it out, then replace. I have given up and will let the cleaning crew feast. I am just as frustrated as you, but only time will probably cure it. Just my TC.

06/20/2006, 08:42 PM	#1
jag911 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: ks Posts: 45	will LR ever really get clean? I have had LR in my tank for 43 days now.. seems like every time i move it tons of dust/dirt fly's off and into the water. Then the sand is dirty, the plants get dirtly, the glass get's dirty... etc etc etc. does the LR ever "get clean" or does it continuously get coated with, well, crap. __________________ just keep swimming just keep swimming swimming swimming Current Tank Info: 46b/ barely reef

06/20/2006, 08:45 PM	#2
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	hmm not sure was thinking bout this earlier.. my live rock is soo dusty with crap also. i blow it with a turkey baster every day usually or at least every other and there still is so much crap on there. __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR

06/20/2006, 08:57 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Crap is usual---but you have more of it than you need. Turkey baster it off into the water column and run a little blue/white filter medium. If that won't get it, run 1 micron pad, and that will. I'm not generally into cleaning too much---stuff floats around my tank left and right, and feeds the critters; but this fine dusty stuff is a PITA. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/20/2006, 09:27 PM	#4
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Make sure you're getting enough water flow. I use a turkey baster to blow water on my rocks once a week to kick up anything that's gathered on it, but it's really just stuff that's down in the cracks. I generally don't see any noticable amount of detritus on my rocks between cleanings. In general, I'd say my live rock is in fact pretty clean. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

06/21/2006, 08:45 PM	#6
jag911 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: ks Posts: 45	Hmm, I've been using the turkey baster idea about once a week or so. What I don't like is the "settling" that occurs back onto plants, or the rocks, or the sand, or the glass, or the ... everything. Then I feel like I have to do it again to get the stuff I stirred up off the rocks... But, I guess the filters all get very dirty (doing their job), so it has some effect... maybe I'm just not doing it enough. Thanx for the help everyone! __________________ just keep swimming just keep swimming swimming swimming Current Tank Info: 46b/ barely reef

06/20/2006, 10:06 PM	#5
s2svetko Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 157	good idea with the turkey baster..

06/21/2006, 09:39 PM	#7
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	You really shouldn't need to break out the turkey baster too often. Like I said, I do it about once a week, and I'm not concerned if I miss a week or even too. I don't have plants, but I do have corals, and they don't seem to have anything building up on them. What do you have for water circulation. I'm really thinking you may either need to increase your flow or rearrange it a bit and you shouldn't have nearly the problem you seem to be having. My father's tank has a problem with settling detritus, but he just has one powerhead going, and I think that one's on its last leg. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

06/22/2006, 12:04 AM	#8
MDboyz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 662	I do this every week when I do water change. I use the small power head to blow the dirt of rocks and siphon them out.

06/22/2006, 07:10 AM	#9
WNTITAL Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 213	I have the same problem. I have a ton of crap on my rocks. I found that you will never get rid of it all, but I can suggest this. I have tried putting a filter sock or filter pad in the overflow for a day or two and it seem to help once I stirred the tank up. Also don't leave it in to long, bad things can grow and cause a bigger problem. If you need to leave it longer take it out and rinse it out, then replace. I have given up and will let the cleaning crew feast. I am just as frustrated as you, but only time will probably cure it. Just my TC.