Best way to clean nano tank?

[Lalaallieu]

Hello!

I've been cleaning my tank, and it's growing a lot of algae lately. I need to do a water change and clean the glass tonight. It's looking pretty rough. Usually I clean the tank top and get the salt that's evaporated off the rim. Then I clean the tank glass and turn everything off. Take the old water out and add the new. I always make sure the water is very close in temp before I add it to the sump type area of my tank. My rock is very very close to my front glass. (BRS sent me a huge chunk for a nano tank) and it sucks. It spans from back glass to front glass in my 13.5 gallon fluval. I usually have to wipe the glass off with my hand because my scrubber can't fit between the rock and glass. Is there an easier way to do this? My tank looks kinda bad because my hand just can't get it off well enough. I'm afraid to use a paper towel in the tank in case it disintegrates in the tank. What do you all do to clean your tank? Anything I should be doing to enhance my cleaning routine?

Lauren

 

[kapnkush608]

Smash the rock and arrange the pieces how you like. Mag cleaners for nanos are pretty cheap and the make all sorts of long scrapers and brushes.

 

[kapnkush608]

Also, I use mag cleaners to answer the question at hand. I have a Mag float and a flipper I use depending on where I'm cleaning. The mag float is nice because it floats when you are done and the flipper has a very slim profile.

 

[Lalaallieu]

Smash the rock and arrange the pieces how you like. Mag cleaners for nanos are pretty cheap and the make all sorts of long scrapers and brushes.

Can I do that after I've kind of cycled it? My nitrite and ammonia are 0, but I've got green algae and cyano growing on it which I guess is part of the cycling. Is that possible to take it out and not hurt my bacteria if I break the pieces off?

 

[GainesvilleReef]

If the rock drys the bacteria will die.

 

[kapnkush608]

Can I do that after I've kind of cycled it? My nitrite and ammonia are 0, but I've got green algae and cyano growing on it which I guess is part of the cycling. Is that possible to take it out and not hurt my bacteria if I break the pieces off?

You're good, especially since you just started. I would fix anything that slightly annoys you now otherwise it will really bother you later. Also if you are really worried about your bacteria mist the rock with tank water to keep it moist while smashing.

 

[Jason boles]

Also while you have the rock out scrub all that stuff off it.
When I have outbreaks fo green hair algae I use a hard bristle toothbrush and scrub away u till it releases and siphon as much as possible.
Also beef up a little cleaning crew.

if you smash it now you won’t regret it later. If it stays moist it won’t kill bacteria.
Also water we’d is your friend. I use it in my tank with everything in it. So you could setup your scape then glue it in tank.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

I agree, be patient and fix your issues now. You will be much happier.

 

[lapin]

Bacteria lives deep in the rocks and it will take a long time for the rocks to completely dry out. Take them out clean them then break them up. Chisel and hammer work well. A tile saw if you want flat spots.
Paper towels can be good in some cases. They pick up the algae a lot better than cleaning with a magnet. Try a different brand.

 

[Arricefe]

googlize this "Flo Tool 7 Quart Drain Pan", get one they're handy and cheap. Take the rock out and put it there when you're breaking it.

 

[Tank08]

Do you have a clean up crew? Lights on too long? How often are you doing water changes? Also I do agree on braking up the rock... I wound do a water change and keep the water, put the rock in the used water and pull off any excess algae. Take a hammer and hit it gate in the center of the rock. Yes- use safety glass.... rinse off the rock with used water. No tap water! Hope this helps a bit.

 

[brandon429]

be sure and read what we did with this similar sized nano, this is deep thorough cleaning.

its not harmful, its the secret to long life in a nano reef. the partial work actually allows slow build up, this way is how you whip them into shape. your algae scraping and subsequent cleaning jobs slow greatly for several months after this rip clean technique.

Nuvo 10 Crash?

Hi everybody, new member and my first post so I hope this is the right place; I need help with my nuvo 10 ASAP! To begin, this nuvo 10 was set up about 3 months ago, cycled and all (came over from freshwater so not that much of a newbie). Easy coral was not added until a month ago and fish 3...

www.reef2reef.com

the right way to clean a nano is to take it fully apart, lay the rocks on the counter and scrape off algae outside the water (fish are obviously held in buckets etc) and then rinse the sand 100% clean, then refill with all new water and re assemble a totally clean tank.