Toothbrushes?

[CastAway]

I’ve seen staff in my LFS’s use a toothbrush and go over live rock in the displays to remove algae and detritus. My first thought was that this might actually spread and promote the algae. Should one regularly clean the rock like this? Is it okay to do on a very new system – a month or so old?

 

[hit_the_gap]

i use a tooth brush on my rocks all the time. so far, no issues. my tank is about a year and a half old now.

 

[cdness]

I do it all the time.

 

[vlangel]

I've been using toothbrushes for 15yrs, on my tank! A lot longer than that on my teeth!!!

 

[larangcon]

Been using tooth brush for years no problem with algae spreading

 

[TJ's Reef]

Me to, definitely a staple in a Reefkeepers tool arsenal. Always use it to clean off LR area before gluing down frags for better adhesion. Also very effective for cleaning out Z & P colonies, Pyrimidal Snails and their eggs off Clams etc... etc...

Cheers, Todd

 

[CastAway]

Excellent. Thanks.

Is cleaning rock this way acceptable on a new system, or, do I need to let the algae, diatoms and cyano accumulate and just let the growing CUC take care of it?

 

[Genesis Corals]

Excellent. Thanks.

Is cleaning rock this way acceptable on a new system, or, do I need to let the algae, diatoms and cyano accumulate and just let the growing CUC take care of it?

If you have no corals in the tank I would personally just let the algae grow. That way the algae can absorb any trace metals and all the excessive phosphate and nitrate in your system.

 

[gemini9]

Doesn't this remove/disturb the beneficial bacteria?

 

[vlangel]

Doesn't this remove/disturb the beneficial bacteria?

It does some but when I maintenance my tank I am not toothbrushing everything every time. I do this area this time, that area the next time so the bacteria's and beneficial creatures recolonize.

 

[CastAway]

I'm in no hurry to add corals, so I think I'll just let the algae grow, and focus on eliminating the NO3 and PO4. I did clean a small area however, just to see how easily or difficult the algae came off, and, to watch re-growth after. Thanks everyone!