Get rid of live rock?

Fergie91 · Mar 17, 2020

Hi guys, quick question. I seem to have a problem with algae lately. First it was red algae, got rid of that problem but now i get alot of green algae on the live rock and tank wall lately. No matter how many water changes i do and a clean of the rocks it eventually comes back. Is it worth getting rid of the problem live rock and start again? Or is there a really good way to clean the rock and place in again?
Thanks, Trent.

Big G · Mar 17, 2020

How long has the tank been up and running?

Fergie91 · Mar 18, 2020

2+ years

Big G · Mar 18, 2020

Fergie91 said:
2+ years

Sometimes it takes a couple of years for a tank to mature and reach equilibrium.

r20crazy · Mar 18, 2020

how old are your bulbs/fixture and what are they? maybe your clean up crew isn't large enough?

NS Mike D · Mar 18, 2020

how are you cleaning the rocks. You can scrub them with an H202 solution and rinse that will kill off the nuisance but leave the coraline, bacteria and corals intact (if done properly). If your are cleaning the rocks by blowing the algae off it or scrubbing them while in the DT, that will just cause it to spread. You gotta get the algae out of the tank, and make sure the rock is fully covered by it's natural defense.

Are rocks covered in coraline. Coraline is the first and one of the best lines of defense against nuisance algae. The comment about a mature tank reaching equilibrium is very important.

A tank should develop the micro fauna - ie. coraline. bacteria , pods, worms etc that will hold the nuisance stuff at bay, even destroy it.

Big G · Mar 18, 2020

Fergie91 said:
Hi guys, quick question. I seem to have a problem with algae lately. First it was red algae, got rid of that problem but now i get alot of green algae on the live rock and tank wall lately. No matter how many water changes i do and a clean of the rocks it eventually comes back. Is it worth getting rid of the problem live rock and start again? Or is there a really good way to clean the rock and place in again?
Thanks, Trent.

One thing that I do when cleaning rocks is to attach a toothbrush to the end of the siphon hose. Heat up the toothbrush and bend it to an angle that you like for scrubbing the rocks. When using, go very slowly so the siphon sucks up the algae as you scrub it loose. If you have a sump under your tank, you can drain the siphon hose into the sump (with a mesh bag on the end to catch the algae) and you can almost siphon/scrub endlessly.

Flippers4pups · Mar 18, 2020

Big G said:
One thing that I do when cleaning rocks is to attach a toothbrush to the end of the siphon hose. Heat up the toothbrush and bend it to an angle that you like for scrubbing the rocks. When using, go very slowly so the siphon sucks up the algae as you scrub it loose. If you have a sump under your tank, you can drain the siphon hose into the sump (with a mesh bag on the end to catch the algae) and you can almost siphon/scrub endlessly.

I've done this before years ago.