Blacking out Live Rock

Klaus777 · 12/11/2011, 08:24 PM

I have around 200 lbs of live rock that is covered in algae that I've been trying to clean up for some time now. What I'm going to try next is to black it out with a skimmer running and lots of power heads in a 150 gallon livestock tank. what I'd like to know is how long will the blackout need to be to kill off the algae.

Ninong · 12/11/2011, 08:28 PM

Some algae spores remain viable after three to five months of darkness.

Good luck.

NanoReefWanabe · 12/11/2011, 09:48 PM

essentially what you are doing is "cooking" your rock...most people report it takes about a month or so...i dont think there is much worry of spores if you are skimming the water...just put the skimmer in the vat and keep everything in total darkness...if your skimmer is external i would wrap it in towels or something to keep the light out of it..

Klaus777 · 12/11/2011, 10:29 PM

Thanks for replies, waiting out the total darkness to work sure beats having to scrub that much rock!

SDguy · 12/11/2011, 10:34 PM

Darkness will make the algae die. The nutrients will then be in the water. Wait long enough, and sure, stuff like sponges will take it up. But that takes lots of time. Water changes and skimming are much faster.

cnaegler · 12/11/2011, 11:22 PM

I agree. Darkness will kill the algae, however, you may still have phosphate bound up in your rock, making the algae regrow when you introduce it back into your display. I would definitely "cook" the rock if i could.

W8lifts · 12/11/2011, 11:23 PM

I did that but also vodka dosed the rock and it worked like a champ.

Klaus777 · 12/12/2011, 06:49 AM

Yeah, I'm definitely going to be doing heavy water changes and blasting the rocks also to get as much out of them as possible.

DownwardDawg · 12/12/2011, 06:53 AM

Search the forum for lanthanum chloride. I just stumbled upon that the other day and it's real interesting.

12/11/2011, 08:24 PM	#1
Klaus777 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kitchener, ontario Posts: 244	Blacking out Live Rock I have around 200 lbs of live rock that is covered in algae that I've been trying to clean up for some time now. What I'm going to try next is to black it out with a skimmer running and lots of power heads in a 150 gallon livestock tank. what I'd like to know is how long will the blackout need to be to kill off the algae.

12/11/2011, 08:28 PM	#2
Ninong Team RC Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: USA Posts: 3,376	Some algae spores remain viable after three to five months of darkness. Good luck. __________________ Ninong

12/11/2011, 10:34 PM	#5
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Darkness will make the algae die. The nutrients will then be in the water. Wait long enough, and sure, stuff like sponges will take it up. But that takes lots of time. Water changes and skimming are much faster. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

12/11/2011, 11:22 PM	#6
cnaegler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sylva, NC-Western North Carolina Posts: 960	I agree. Darkness will kill the algae, however, you may still have phosphate bound up in your rock, making the algae regrow when you introduce it back into your display. I would definitely "cook" the rock if i could. __________________ Craig _________________________ ATL "Superman" acro, Vivid's Rainbow Delight acro wanted You can want in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first!! Save the reefs! Buy captive bred fish and aquacultured corals! Current Tank Info: Downsizing to a 120 BB SPS tank, 6205 &6305 Tunze on 7095 controller, Current USA extreme 8 x 54 fixture

12/11/2011, 11:23 PM	#7
W8lifts Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW area Posts: 276	I did that but also vodka dosed the rock and it worked like a champ. __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75 gallon Display, 30 Gallon Sump,12 gallon Nano, ATS, Vortex MP40, Coralife Skimmer, UV Twist, Oceanic Chiller,250 watt MH's,ATO, Apex Cont, RO/DI four stage, Kalk Mixer, Phosban Reactor, and the addiction keeps going....

12/11/2011, 09:48 PM	#3
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	essentially what you are doing is "cooking" your rock...most people report it takes about a month or so...i dont think there is much worry of spores if you are skimming the water...just put the skimmer in the vat and keep everything in total darkness...if your skimmer is external i would wrap it in towels or something to keep the light out of it..

12/11/2011, 10:29 PM	#4
Klaus777 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kitchener, ontario Posts: 244	Thanks for replies, waiting out the total darkness to work sure beats having to scrub that much rock!

12/12/2011, 06:49 AM	#8
Klaus777 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kitchener, ontario Posts: 244	Yeah, I'm definitely going to be doing heavy water changes and blasting the rocks also to get as much out of them as possible.

12/12/2011, 06:53 AM	#9
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Search the forum for lanthanum chloride. I just stumbled upon that the other day and it's real interesting. __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

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