Home made rock?!?!

[reefer91]

I posted before about a really bad algae outbreak, I’ve since learnt the previous owner had in face made some off the rock with cement.
Ok so I quickly looked it up online and says it causes really bad algae with using cement (not sure what else he used with cement)
So I took all of it out and left the actual live rock not home made rock, tank really cloudy at the moment hopefully will clear through the night.

my question is is that true online it causes really bad algae in reef tanks if used cement?
Many thanks

 

[Bucs20fan]

The issue with home made rocks out of concrete/cement is not just the silicates that would leach out and be a food source for algae for a very long time, it would also be the other pollutants in concrete that would leach out into your aquarium, AKA heavy metals that are incredibly difficult to remove. But in short, yes, concrete would be a huge algae feeder.

 

[reefer91]

The issue with home made rocks out of concrete/cement is not just the silicates that would leach out and be a food source for algae for a very long time, it would also be the other pollutants in concrete that would leach out into your aquarium, AKA heavy metals that are incredibly difficult to remove. But in short, yes, concrete would be a huge algae feeder.

I’ve took it all out soon as he said I read up on it as he said he always had problems with algae etc that he couldn’t get rid off.

what else should I do I vacuumed the bottom to get as much off the bottom I can.

I’ll be getting some active carbon to put in the filter.
But if there is anything else I can do be much appreciated

 

[Bucs20fan]

Absolutely run carbon. Siphon would help with cloudy water over time, If heavy metals leached out they will have to be removed over time with water changes. There are other products like chemi pure and such that help remove different substances from the water column. Water changes will be your friend. But as is the case with even the water we drink, it takes a system similar to an RODI filter to remove heavy metals from water.

 

[reefer91]

Absolutely run carbon. Siphon would help with cloudy water over time, If heavy metals leached out they will have to be removed over time with water changes. There are other products like chemi pure and such that help remove different substances from the water column. Water changes will be your friend. But as is the case with even the water we drink, it takes a system similar to an RODI filter to remove heavy metals from water.

Yes I do weekly water changes 5 gallons each week. But will be doing a 3 day black out just to kill the algae that’s all over the rocks glass etc. I found it strange as my nano I have has never ever had algae this bad soon as I wipe it off the glass it was back nearly the next day even with lights being lowered so I was quite confused to be honest. I though it was dino but is green

 

[Big Smelly fish]

There was a time when making rock with cement was popular. I remember reading about it and all the time in forums. If came and went out if style pretty quick. Probably the reason.

 

[reefer91]

There was a time when making rock with cement was popular. I remember reading about it and all the time in forums. If came and went out if style pretty quick. Probably the reason.

Yeah I used to have marine tanks years ago I no all tanks get diatoms but this is somthing else lol I have 1 piece left in as the stupid anemones think it’s a great rock for them

 

[encrustingacro]

From what I know, if you use aragonite sand and portland cement for the rock, it should be reef safe.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

someone that made their own DIY rocks would have taken the time to cure them properly. I've got my own DIY rocks I made 15 years ago and they are still in my tanks today, my 'algae free' tanks. If DIY rocks are made properly and cured properly, there is no negative affect.

Since you just joined this forum and you describe diatoms ad algae, how old is the tank?

 

[reefer91]

.

someone that made their own DIY rocks would have taken the time to cure them properly. I've got my own DIY rocks I made 15 years ago and they are still in my tanks today, my 'algae free' tanks. If DIY rocks are made properly and cured properly, there is no negative affect.

Since you just joined this forum and you describe diatoms ad algae, how old is the tank?

It’s about a month or so

 

[encrustingacro]

I am wondering, if the cement causes algae, then what do artificial live rock manufacturers use in place of cement?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

.

It’s about a month or so

Its called 'new tank syndrome', or 'ugly stages', we all go through it wether we have DIY rocks or not, unfortunately its usually part of the tank maturing process.

 

[reefer91]

Its called 'new tank syndrome', or 'ugly stages', we all go through it wether we have DIY rocks or not, unfortunately its usually part of the tank maturing process.

Yeah but it’s like green hair everywhere. On the snails, crabs, going up my leather toadstool

 

[reefer91]

But also weird how the algae is everywhere accept the places that didn’t receive light ( bottom rocks which rocks were stacked on is completely uneffected no algae at all :/

 

[encrustingacro]

But also weird how the algae is everywhere accept the places that didn’t receive light ( bottom rocks which rocks were stacked on is completely uneffected no algae at all :/

Algae usually cannot grow where there is no light. Also, did you keep your light on while cycling, because that could cause algae.