Will powerwashing LR total kill it?

Salty Brother · 08/31/2007, 11:55 AM

Im upgrading tanks soon, and the brown algae took over my 40. Its on about 90% of the rocks. I took a piece out to see if i could just scrub it off but that didnt work, so I took my dads powerwasher and sprayed it and that worked really well. But will this kill everything on it cuase im gonna have to do it to alot of my rocks.
Thanks,
Patrick

Shnabbles · 08/31/2007, 11:59 AM

The fresh water will definently chase everything live out of the rock... and the water pressure could end up breaking chunks of rock off...

lewismw · 08/31/2007, 12:03 PM

IMHO I think not.
I have a 125 tank up right now that is stocked with nothing but pressure washed live rock. It was washed to get alot of junk i did not want off.
I think the rock is porous that blasting at the surface wont even disturb the microbial life in side.
If anything it is not as invasive as a fresh water dip.

Salty Brother · 08/31/2007, 12:40 PM

Ya I tried it on a rock and it didnt break it apart, but i really need to get rid of the algae, hopefully stuff on the inside will live and it will be ok.

thrillreefer · 08/31/2007, 01:04 PM

washing the rocks may get rid of current algae, but it won't do anything about its return. You might to better to address the cause of the problem, such as upgrade your skimmer or maintenance practices, and add some herbivores (i.e. snails). This way, you won't have to worry about it coming back.

But I doubt powerwashing will kill too much that is inside the rocks, as long as you return them to SW asap after washing. might have a bit of die off, but not an extinction

08/31/2007, 11:55 AM	#1
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Will powerwashing LR total kill it? Im upgrading tanks soon, and the brown algae took over my 40. Its on about 90% of the rocks. I took a piece out to see if i could just scrub it off but that didnt work, so I took my dads powerwasher and sprayed it and that worked really well. But will this kill everything on it cuase im gonna have to do it to alot of my rocks. Thanks, Patrick

08/31/2007, 11:59 AM	#2
Shnabbles Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Clayton, DE Posts: 1,316	The fresh water will definently chase everything live out of the rock... and the water pressure could end up breaking chunks of rock off...

08/31/2007, 12:03 PM	#3
lewismw Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Birmingham Posts: 275	IMHO I think not. I have a 125 tank up right now that is stocked with nothing but pressure washed live rock. It was washed to get alot of junk i did not want off. I think the rock is porous that blasting at the surface wont even disturb the microbial life in side. If anything it is not as invasive as a fresh water dip.

08/31/2007, 12:40 PM	#4
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Ya I tried it on a rock and it didnt break it apart, but i really need to get rid of the algae, hopefully stuff on the inside will live and it will be ok.

08/31/2007, 01:04 PM	#5
thrillreefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 308	washing the rocks may get rid of current algae, but it won't do anything about its return. You might to better to address the cause of the problem, such as upgrade your skimmer or maintenance practices, and add some herbivores (i.e. snails). This way, you won't have to worry about it coming back. But I doubt powerwashing will kill too much that is inside the rocks, as long as you return them to SW asap after washing. might have a bit of die off, but not an extinction