getting rid of bad hitchikers

[dirk_brijs]

As I will be starting to built my new set up I will be using most of the life rock I have in my current system. Now I know those rocks are full of life and also full of hitchhikers I rather dont have in my new display like alot of aggressive crabs and worms etc.
Also the new rocks that I will be using will be coming straight out of the ocean here so I can imagine also those will be full of maybe unwanted hitchhikers. I am sure also some good ones but how would I get rid of hitchhikers without having to kill the entire rock?
I hear dipping in fresh water helps though I can imagine that allot of crabs would survive this?
please advise

[Nanook]

This thread has been moved to the current forum.

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by dirk_brijs

As I will be starting to built my new set up I will be using most of the life rock I have in my current system. Now I know those rocks are full of life and also full of hitchhikers I rather dont have in my new display like alot of aggressive crabs and worms etc.
Also the new rocks that I will be using will be coming straight out of the ocean here so I can imagine also those will be full of maybe unwanted hitchhikers. I am sure also some good ones but how would I get rid of hitchhikers without having to kill the entire rock?
I hear dipping in fresh water helps though I can imagine that allot of crabs would survive this?
please advise

The only way to ensure you don't get any hitchhikers from your old tank or the LR your getting from the ocean is to kill it before you ad it to your new tank. I don't know if you would be willing to do that to the rock you have currently in your tank but in my opinion its worth the effort so you don't have to worry about problems hitchhikers in your new system. It doesn't take much to seed base rock to get it to turn 'live' again, grab some aquarium water from the LFS or a friend along with 1-2 pounds of established rock and a cup of their sand bed and your off to the races.

I'm not sure the survival rate of crabs in fresh water dipping but if fish can survive a quick fresh water bath I would think hardy crabs would most certainly be able to survive. The crab that found its way in my tank was a monster (at only a couple inches big) and took me forever to catch. It ate 6 clowns, I don't know how many turbo snails and was a force to be reckoned with and he came from a piece of LR I added to my tank from the LFS.

[dirk_brijs]

so how would I go best to kill it all?

[shaginwagon13]

I would assume that putting all the LR in fresh water (RODI water) over night should kill everything you don't want. I know crabs and unwanted worms cannot survive extended time in fresh water.

I know its a pain to start over, but IMO its well worth it in the long run.

[dirk_brijs]

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

I would assume that putting all the LR in fresh water (RODI water) over night should kill everything you don't want. I know crabs and unwanted worms cannot survive extended time in fresh water.

I know its a pain to start over, but IMO its well worth it in the long run.

I agree with you and will proceed that way for sure.
As you mentioned I also have some serious monster crab and worm issues in my current system as I added the rocks straight out of the ocean in the system.
So when I do that overnight in fresh water then place them in the tank and add the water and sand from my old system plus the extra water needed for my new tank it would seed the rock right away?
Will be leaving the rocks and water cycle for a few weeks before adding any of the life stock as due to the die off on the rocks I will be going through a cycle right even I am using fresh ocean and old tank water.
The extra water will also be fresh ocean water by the way. (current system is about 200Gallon and will be going to a 800gallon system)

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by dirk_brijs

I agree with you and will proceed that way for sure.
As you mentioned I also have some serious monster crab and worm issues in my current system as I added the rocks straight out of the ocean in the system.
So when I do that overnight in fresh water then place them in the tank and add the water and sand from my old system plus the extra water needed for my new tank it would seed the rock right away?
Will be leaving the rocks and water cycle for a few weeks before adding any of the life stock as due to the die off on the rocks I will be going through a cycle right even I am using fresh ocean and old tank water.
The extra water will also be fresh ocean water by the way. (current system is about 200Gallon and will be going to a 800gallon system)

Yes when you place your current LR in fresh water your more or less turning it into base rock which is a good thing for what you are trying to accomplish. All the crabs and worms will be gone, but along with them your beneficial bacteria will also be gone.

After you fresh water dip them, place them in your new tank. When you do this, also add in a couple pieces of established LR. Try to choose rocks that don't have a lot of holes or crevices so you can minimize the risk of crabs or worms being added to your new system. Along with adding the established rock, add some sand from an established tank as well as some water. From the Rock, sand and water you will have enough to properly seed your system.

Like you said your tank will cycle from the dead matter thats left on your now base rock, soon to be Live rock and in a couple months you should be well on your way to having a very healthy tank.

[Snowsrfr]

What kind of "bad" hitchhikers are we talking?

For crabs I would recommend a small glass jar with some bait, set at an angle against a rock. Crabs climb in but too slick to get out.

What kind of bad worms are you worried about?

Most worms are great detrius eaters and unless you get some monster ones, I don't see them as a problem.

[PRDubois]

Always rember to DIP:

[dirk_brijs]

Originally Posted by Snowsrfr

What kind of "bad" hitchhikers are we talking?

For crabs I would recommend a small glass jar with some bait, set at an angle against a rock. Crabs climb in but too slick to get out.

What kind of bad worms are you worried about?

Most worms are great detrius eaters and unless you get some monster ones, I don't see them as a problem.

I am talking about allot of crabs though. Tried the glass thing but they seem to get full with snails instead of crabs most of the time. As crabs and snails get in there together the next morning I have maybe 3 or 4 fat crabs and allot of death snails in there.
I wont be able to get other stuff inside the tank as most rocks with corals are full of worms and crabs most of the time but at least as I am changing system I would like to start as clean as possible.

[Uncle Salty 05]

Taking live rock straight from the ocean only to kill it is the one of the stupidest ideas I have ever heard. Bordering on obscene.
Put the rock in your tank and eliminate the unwanted hitchhikers afterward.