Best brush to clean live rocks?

inachu · 05/16/2008, 08:27 AM

I was thinking of using a new dish brush but was thinking the bristles would be too hard.

Would a new shoe brush made for buffing work?
They use horse hair......

Lately ive just been using those turkey basters to blwo off the sand on the rock but I reached in to move one and it felt leathery.

Bebo77 · 05/16/2008, 08:32 AM

what are you trying to do?

Saltwater_Dog · 05/16/2008, 08:33 AM

I use a dish brush to scrub my rocks and it isnt to hard.

inachu · 05/16/2008, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bebo77
what are you trying to do?

Just to clean the rock of leathery substance that does not look like algae.

Also read(from this site) that lightly brushing the live rock can help populate the tank with the purple algae that is currently growing on it.

stuccodude · 05/16/2008, 08:59 AM

i use my kids toothbrush(jk) i do use a toothbrush though, its small and takes forever but i like it.

sjj80 · 05/16/2008, 09:11 AM

I like using a toothbrush too, really gets into those nooks and crannies!

jimbo78 · 05/16/2008, 09:28 AM

i have a tooth brush a toilet brush a dish brush and a wire brush

the wire brush works the best (only use it outside the tank) its the size of a tooth brush and is great for getting algea out of nooks. it might have taken off some i little coraline but made short work of the bryopsis i am dealing with

Savas · 05/16/2008, 10:02 AM

I use a tooth brush and it seems fine to me.

wicked_NaCl_h2o · 05/16/2008, 10:08 AM

I scrub rocks with a new, never been used, dog tooth brush, because it has two heads that are different sizes.

inachu · 05/16/2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wicked_NaCl_h2o
I scrub rocks with a new, never been used, dog tooth brush, because it has two heads that are different sizes.

I'll have to check that out!

ericad289 · 05/16/2008, 10:00 PM

i'm glad to know that i'm not the only one who uses a toothbrush in my tank..i use it on the rocks and also the corners of the tank where the magfloat doesn't reach well.

dlaxer24 · 05/16/2008, 10:10 PM

My tank has a newer toothbrush then me.

Aquarist007 · 05/16/2008, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dlaxer24
My tank has a newer toothbrush then me.

probably less cavities too

demonsp · 05/16/2008, 10:46 PM

Through out the brush and find the source. First do weekly water changes and right before you change out blow rocks but keep it to around 1/4 of the rocks to remove more of these debris and a HOB media filter will help collect more and after a few weeks it will look better.

Then cause could be from lack of flow or powerhead placement or LR placment or fish population or feeding amount and scedule to tanks age and amount and type of CUC.

tmz · 05/16/2008, 11:36 PM

Toothbrush for me.Tweezers and a turkey baster too.

demonsp · 05/17/2008, 12:04 AM

Automotive brush set. Checker has a 3 piece set of brass, stainless , and plastic . Its a little larger then a toothbrush and will last.

maxheadroom · 05/17/2008, 08:23 AM

I have a nice copper wire brush i use.

Aquarist007 · 05/17/2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tmz
Toothbrush for me.Tweezers and a turkey baster too.

I think I saw you in action with your turkeybaster the other day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0lk_eWMxA

tmz · 05/17/2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I think I saw you in action with your turkeybaster the other day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0lk_eWMxA

Thanks for that,another way to use it.

CoreyK · 05/17/2008, 10:18 AM

Are we talking about scrubbing/dusting LR as a part of regular maintenance? Is this an important thing to do?

Aquarist007 · 05/17/2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CoreyK
Are we talking about scrubbing/dusting LR as a part of regular maintenance? Is this an important thing to do?

once a week take the turkey baster and lightly baste the rockwork and surface of the substrate--done on a regular basis this gets organics, phosphates and nitrates back up into the water column where they can be filtered off.
No accumulated food--no algae--no need to take the rock out and scrub it

jkrentz2515 · 05/17/2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
once a week take the turkey baster and lightly baste the rockwork and surface of the substrate--done on a regular basis this gets organics, phosphates and nitrates back up into the water column where they can be filtered off.
No accumulated food--no algae--no need to take the rock out and scrub it

This is what I do and then every 2 weeks I baste the rock and then do a water change at the same time. This way I take a little work load off of the skimmer.

bandh0526 · 05/17/2008, 11:37 AM

Yeah, I'm realizing how much I don't know about this hobby.
I am a newbie tho'

Scrubbing the rocks? I guess I need to read up on this stuff a little more!!!

bandh0526 · 05/17/2008, 11:37 AM

Yeah, I'm realizing how much I don't know about this hobby.
I am a newbie tho'

Scrubbing the rocks? I guess I need to read up on this stuff a little more!!!

justsomeguy · 05/17/2008, 04:42 PM

I also use a toothbrush

05/16/2008, 08:27 AM	#1
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	Best brush to clean live rocks? I was thinking of using a new dish brush but was thinking the bristles would be too hard. Would a new shoe brush made for buffing work? They use horse hair...... Lately ive just been using those turkey basters to blwo off the sand on the rock but I reached in to move one and it felt leathery.

05/16/2008, 08:32 AM	#2
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	what are you trying to do? __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

05/16/2008, 08:33 AM	#3
Saltwater_Dog Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Isle, Louisiana Posts: 375	I use a dish brush to scrub my rocks and it isnt to hard. __________________ GO TIGERS!!!!! Current Tank Info: 100 gal, 160 lbs Live Rock, 120 lbs Live Sand, Octopus HOB Skimmer, PC Lighting, 2-Koralia 3's, 2-Max Jett 900's, Filter Guys Ocean Wave + RO/DI 75gpd

05/16/2008, 08:59 AM	#5
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	i use my kids toothbrush(jk) i do use a toothbrush though, its small and takes forever but i like it. __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

05/16/2008, 09:11 AM	#6
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	I like using a toothbrush too, really gets into those nooks and crannies! __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

05/16/2008, 09:28 AM	#7
jimbo78 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: miami Posts: 3,099	i have a tooth brush a toilet brush a dish brush and a wire brush the wire brush works the best (only use it outside the tank) its the size of a tooth brush and is great for getting algea out of nooks. it might have taken off some i little coraline but made short work of the bryopsis i am dealing with __________________ Dive with sharks? Doesn't everyone. Current Tank Info: 60 cube

05/16/2008, 10:02 AM	#8
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	I use a tooth brush and it seems fine to me. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

05/16/2008, 10:08 AM	#9
wicked_NaCl_h2o Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 1,602	I scrub rocks with a new, never been used, dog tooth brush, because it has two heads that are different sizes. __________________ ~Christina~ Current Tank Info: 120g Chrysopterus Anemone tank 24g mimic blenny tank

05/16/2008, 10:00 PM	#11
ericad289 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Alabama Posts: 79	i'm glad to know that i'm not the only one who uses a toothbrush in my tank..i use it on the rocks and also the corners of the tank where the magfloat doesn't reach well.

05/16/2008, 10:10 PM	#12
dlaxer24 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LI, N.Y. Posts: 79	toothbrush My tank has a newer toothbrush then me.

05/16/2008, 10:46 PM	#14
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Through out the brush and find the source. First do weekly water changes and right before you change out blow rocks but keep it to around 1/4 of the rocks to remove more of these debris and a HOB media filter will help collect more and after a few weeks it will look better. Then cause could be from lack of flow or powerhead placement or LR placment or fish population or feeding amount and scedule to tanks age and amount and type of CUC.

05/16/2008, 11:36 PM	#15
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Toothbrush for me.Tweezers and a turkey baster too. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

05/17/2008, 12:04 AM	#16
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Automotive brush set. Checker has a 3 piece set of brass, stainless , and plastic . Its a little larger then a toothbrush and will last.

05/17/2008, 08:23 AM	#17
maxheadroom Clownfish Farmer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port St. Lucie, FL Posts: 2,071	I have a nice copper wire brush i use.

05/17/2008, 10:18 AM	#20
CoreyK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 136	Are we talking about scrubbing/dusting LR as a part of regular maintenance? Is this an important thing to do?

05/17/2008, 11:37 AM	#23
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	Yeah, I'm realizing how much I don't know about this hobby. I am a newbie tho' Scrubbing the rocks? I guess I need to read up on this stuff a little more!!!

05/17/2008, 04:42 PM	#25
justsomeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 144	I also use a toothbrush