Is it Really Necessary To Blow Off Live Rock?

PatMayo · 04/09/2006, 06:58 PM

Is it really necessary to blow off your live rock? I hear that some folks use turkey basters and others use powerheads.

If it is necessary what is the formula? Weekly, monthly, every oher month? What is the long term benefit and what are the consequences for not doing it?

Regards,

Pat

iCam · 04/09/2006, 07:01 PM

I just did it everytime I did a water change. I would stir the detritus up into the water column (with a powerhead of turkey baster), then siphon out what I could. I would also hook up my canister filter to suck the rest out.

Andrew · 04/09/2006, 07:37 PM

I just do it when ever is get dirty. Most of the time I only have to do it once or twice a month.

IslandCrow · 04/09/2006, 07:46 PM

If you have good water flow and a healthy supply of detritus eaters, I bet it isn't all that necessary. Like iCam, I point my powerheads at the rocks about once a week when I do my water changes. In the ocean, the tides usually do a good job keeping detritus from building up. I figure in an aquarium, it may start running out of places to go.

04/09/2006, 06:58 PM	#1
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Is it Really Necessary To Blow Off Live Rock? Is it really necessary to blow off your live rock? I hear that some folks use turkey basters and others use powerheads. If it is necessary what is the formula? Weekly, monthly, every oher month? What is the long term benefit and what are the consequences for not doing it? Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

04/09/2006, 07:46 PM	#4
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	If you have good water flow and a healthy supply of detritus eaters, I bet it isn't all that necessary. Like iCam, I point my powerheads at the rocks about once a week when I do my water changes. In the ocean, the tides usually do a good job keeping detritus from building up. I figure in an aquarium, it may start running out of places to go. __________________ 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?

04/09/2006, 07:01 PM	#2
iCam Window Seat Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 4,135	I just did it everytime I did a water change. I would stir the detritus up into the water column (with a powerhead of turkey baster), then siphon out what I could. I would also hook up my canister filter to suck the rest out.

04/09/2006, 07:37 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	I just do it when ever is get dirty. Most of the time I only have to do it once or twice a month.