Can i brush live rock while in tank?

[RJ F.]

Hey yall. Sorry if this seems like a noob question. I have had my tank running for about 8 months. I've noticed some stuff starting to grow on the rocks. I used a baster to bliw them off about once a week to 2 weeks. I have a bristle detail brush. I started to brush one of the rocks and a ton of stuff came off it and started to fill the water column. I was wondering if I can put a filter sock on my drains and do some scrubbing?

 

[Katrina71]

Do you have pics?

 

[RJ F.]

Here are pics with blue and then only white. Let me know if you need anything else. Tha k you!

 

[MTBake]

I'd say your safe to scrub away on that stuff. Some algae can actually spread if disturbed. Doesn't look like you have that in your tank. I say scrub away.

I've attached a brush to the end of a hose to siphon stuff out while scrubbing. The filter socks will work as well. Make sure they don't plug up on you though.

 

[brandon429]

it should be done externally you will fragment the issue if you scrub in tank. those rocks are easy to lift out and handle externally, rinsing away all removed items vs recirc.

any one of those rocks with coral could be lifted out, sitting on your counter for 20 mins in air being worked, rinsed, then put back harmlessly. I have a video of me draining my entire 13 yr nano packed full of corals for 33 mins, this is how I arrived at your safe 20 above
B

 

[doodledreads]

Oh and make sure there are no Palythoa hiding anywhere. You do not want Palytoxin poisoning. I never scrub my rocks manually. I let the grazers do it for me - snails, scarlet hermit crabs, fish, if your tank is big enough.

Just blow the dust off the rocks with a turkey blaster and have some CUC, maintain nutrients low.

 

[RJ F.]

I will brush off the ones I can externally. The middle rocks are held by encrusting montis and I dont want to break them. The rocks on the right are where my anemones are and I dont want to mess with them. Thanks for the advice