How to nuke a fish tank - Page 2

Beandawg · 07/25/2013, 03:35 AM

Nothing good happens fast in a reef. Slowwwww down. WAY down. This fuzz isn't harming anything right now. Correct? It is unsightly, and you can't stand it. If you bleach that rock, throw it out, etc... You are wasting a lot of your own time and money. You need an ID. From that ID, you can formulate a plan of attack. Once the plan is formulated, it will only take a couple weeks to get rid of the problem algae. Post a pic. Get an ID.

KafudaFish · 07/25/2013, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamSabina

I don't think acid will be fast enough but it may be safer than bleach (basic). I've use vinegar on lots of equipment but never on live rock.

If I tried vinegar or bleach I try bottled denitrifying bacteria instead of adding live rock to seed. It could eliminate one possible source of contamination.

Sorry acid is virgin ground for me... Be careful though limestone dissolves in acid!!!

An acid bath would work as fast as a bleach bath to kill everything like the OP is wanting but that should be a last step when all else has been tried and ruled out.

Possibilities: light spectrum has shifted, food source, water source or this is just a normal part of the cycle. One thing that has changed in this hobby is the timeline. People use to wait months or even years before stocking a tank and now some do it the same weekend.

As far as one being safer than the other it isn't an acid vs. base issue rather the pH of what is being used. Vinegar and baking soda are weak but HCl and lye are strong.

Both HCl and lye will ruin your day.

Again a picture would allow an ID whether it is bacterial or algal and what steps can be used to battle it.

rrasco · 07/25/2013, 08:55 AM

FWIW, I started my tank out with dry rock and had the white fuzzy fungus growing all over the rocks during my cycle. It went away after I added a CUC and let time do all the work. I know it was asked, but I didn't see a clear answer: how long has this tank been setup with this rock?

surfer64 · 07/25/2013, 02:14 PM

They tank has been set up for over a year and the fuzz has been around for 6 months

surfer64 · 07/25/2013, 02:24 PM

Pics hopefully

surfer64 · 07/25/2013, 02:25 PM

surfer64 · 07/25/2013, 02:26 PM

surfer64 · 07/25/2013, 06:58 PM

Have some pictures anybody know what it is

Beandawg · 07/26/2013, 04:32 AM

The bubbles in it makes me think it may be a type of cyano bacteria. You could try a red slime remover, or lights out/black out for a few days (3-4) usually does the trick. No need to yank the tank apart. If you try the lights out/black out, make sure you block out any sources of ambient light. I use newspaper and tape to cover the glass. Works like a charm.

leveldrummer · 07/26/2013, 06:27 AM

take the powerheads and other removable equipment out and clean it.

then see if you can blow the crap off the rocks with a powerhead/turkey baster.

surfer64 · 07/26/2013, 07:43 AM

Alright so what's gona happen when I turn my lights back on after a 20 gallon water change isnt it just going grow back if the rock is releasing phosphates?

Beandawg · 07/26/2013, 12:28 PM

Not necessarily. If it does come back, it will be less than before. All you do is black it out again. The corals will be fine, they are a more complex organism than bacteria/algae. I just did a black out on my tank for dinoflagellates, it wiped them out 1st shot. Either way it's worth a try, and you don't have to spend any money or time to try it. If phosphate is the route cause, there are ways to deal with it that don't involve a tank tear down.

surfer64 · 07/26/2013, 01:08 PM

ounds good. When I get home from work ill turn off the lights and block any light ill let you kno how it goes in 3 or 4 days thanks for the help

Beandawg · 07/26/2013, 10:36 PM

07/25/2013, 08:55 AM	#28
rrasco Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,159	FWIW, I started my tank out with dry rock and had the white fuzzy fungus growing all over the rocks during my cycle. It went away after I added a CUC and let time do all the work. I know it was asked, but I didn't see a clear answer: how long has this tank been setup with this rock? __________________ -You had me at PWM

07/25/2013, 03:35 AM	#26
Beandawg I see whatchu did there. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 666	Nothing good happens fast in a reef. Slowwwww down. WAY down. This fuzz isn't harming anything right now. Correct? It is unsightly, and you can't stand it. If you bleach that rock, throw it out, etc... You are wasting a lot of your own time and money. You need an ID. From that ID, you can formulate a plan of attack. Once the plan is formulated, it will only take a couple weeks to get rid of the problem algae. Post a pic. Get an ID.

07/25/2013, 02:14 PM	#29
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	They tank has been set up for over a year and the fuzz has been around for 6 months

07/25/2013, 02:24 PM	#30
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	Pics hopefully

07/25/2013, 02:25 PM	#31
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144

07/25/2013, 02:26 PM	#32
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144

07/25/2013, 06:58 PM	#33
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	Have some pictures anybody know what it is

07/26/2013, 04:32 AM	#34
Beandawg I see whatchu did there. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 666	The bubbles in it makes me think it may be a type of cyano bacteria. You could try a red slime remover, or lights out/black out for a few days (3-4) usually does the trick. No need to yank the tank apart. If you try the lights out/black out, make sure you block out any sources of ambient light. I use newspaper and tape to cover the glass. Works like a charm.

07/26/2013, 06:27 AM	#35
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	take the powerheads and other removable equipment out and clean it. then see if you can blow the crap off the rocks with a powerhead/turkey baster.

07/26/2013, 07:43 AM	#36
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	Alright so what's gona happen when I turn my lights back on after a 20 gallon water change isnt it just going grow back if the rock is releasing phosphates?

07/26/2013, 12:28 PM	#37
Beandawg I see whatchu did there. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 666	Not necessarily. If it does come back, it will be less than before. All you do is black it out again. The corals will be fine, they are a more complex organism than bacteria/algae. I just did a black out on my tank for dinoflagellates, it wiped them out 1st shot. Either way it's worth a try, and you don't have to spend any money or time to try it. If phosphate is the route cause, there are ways to deal with it that don't involve a tank tear down.

07/26/2013, 01:08 PM	#38
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	ounds good. When I get home from work ill turn off the lights and block any light ill let you kno how it goes in 3 or 4 days thanks for the help

07/26/2013, 10:36 PM	#39
Beandawg I see whatchu did there. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central CT Posts: 666