Replacing rocks

[Umair]

Dear Reefers,

My tank is about 2 years old and now im planning to replace my vermetid snail infested real reef rocks with dry RRR.

I have in my sump brightwell xport NO3 plate and four maxspect bio blocks since last one year and six months respectively.

Since my present rocks are infested with vermetid snails, i plan to remove all the rocks at once and then introduce new rocks.

What will be the best way to proceed without disturbing my tank parameters as just recently my sps frags have finally started to grow at a good speed and i dont want to disrupt my tank stability.

TIA

 

[brandon429]

Before you replace, the new rocks will have the same verms within a year, won't that cause another redo

If that's still ok/acceptable then cycling the new rocks in a bin then switching them out will work.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I agree just removing the rocks will probably have the snails return.

If going to go through the work of removing the rocks. I would do a water change fill a rubber maid container with the old water and use to hold your rock as you scrub off the snails.

Before returning the rocks, clean all your pumps and sump of any that are hiding there. Will cost less and wont need to cycle new rock.

Just make sure to only work on each rock for 5-10 minutes before resubmerging in water.

To reduce the chances they reoccur, could also use this time to remove your sand and clean any detritus thats trapped inside.

Will also make your rock structure easier to recreate as can add sand after the rocks.

Keep corals and fish in a separate bucket of tank water with a small heater and a bubbler.

 

[Umair]

I agree just removing the rocks will probably have the snails return.

If going to go through the work of removing the rocks. I would do a water change fill a rubber maid container with the old water and use to hold your rock as you scrub off the snails.

Before returning the rocks, clean all your pumps and sump of any that are hiding there. Will cost less and wont need to cycle new rock.

Just make sure to only work on each rock for 5-10 minutes before resubmerging in water.

To reduce the chances they reoccur, could also use this time to remove your sand and clean any detritus thats trapped inside.

Will also make your rock structure easier to recreate as can add sand after the rocks.

Keep corals and fish in a separate bucket of tank water with a small heater and a bubbler.

quite surprisingly i havent seen any vermetid snails in my sump so far. but i guess route suggested by you is much better, should clean my existing rocks and during the process can rescape of course.

i plan to start vacuuming my sand portion wise.