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Should I kill my live rock for new build?


mystersyster

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mystersyster

I am taking down my 20 gallon with the intentions of saving one rock to introduce bacteria and start the biological fiteration process. While taking it down I couldn't help but realize how much the rock had bloomed with coraline, although it took a very very long time. About 2 years. In the beginning I had a terrible infestation of green hair algae. Now that I am taking it down it has almost subsided, although there a a few strong, yet small colonies of hair algae on each rock. Should I kill it all? Should I kill none? I don't want to fight ANOTHER hair algae bloom in the new 40 breeder im setting up. Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Marcus

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I am taking down my 20 gallon with the intentions of saving one rock to introduce bacteria and start the biological fiteration process. While taking it down I couldn't help but realize how much the rock had bloomed with coraline, although it took a very very long time. About 2 years. In the beginning I had a terrible infestation of green hair algae. Now that I am taking it down it has almost subsided, although there a a few strong, yet small colonies of hair algae on each rock. Should I kill it all? Should I kill none? I don't want to fight ANOTHER hair algae bloom in the new 40 breeder im setting up. Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Marcus

Hair algae doesn't just "appear", it's caused by excess nutrients and phosphates in the water. If you scrub the hair algae with a tooth brush, transfer the rock, and then are careful with the feeding I would think you're ready to go.

 

Might want to buffer the CUC as well with a reef cleaners order :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

As harry mentioned, to fight Algea you need to understand what it is, where it comes from, and what feeds it. You can do either, but unless you get a handle on the source of the algea you will most likely see it again with any rock you put in there. Persoanlly if it were me I would consider just purchasing a bunch of dry rock for cheap and changing things up with a new aquascape while the oppritunity is there.

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Thanks. Transferred everything except one piece I didn't like and bought 15 pounds of brs reef saver. The bits of hair algae that were left on the rocks have died or been eaten. Started running my gfo right away. Now I have chaeto so gfo is on hold. Thanks guys.

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