Cleaning aglae on dead rocks without taking them out nor medics

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Anyone has idea how to remove algae(brown-may be dead) on dead rocks without taking them out and preferrrably no medics. This is a fresh water planted tank but I think most salt water tank technique can also be applied redpecially I found that MR members are VERY EXPERIENCED aquarists.

Just woke up this morning and found that one all white dead rocks and shells are brownish in one of my tank. They were very white just a night ago-Am I drunk from last night. :tongue1:

Questions:
1)I turn on the filter only once a while since it make too much noise. Would stagnant water promote more algae growth than running water?
2)Once the aglae is there, what are the ways to clean them with minimal disturbance to the community? Note that the texture of the rock are porus and very hard clean the "holes".

 

[Deanos]

Algae is removed from live rock in saltwater aquariums through the use of hermits crabs, conchs, starfish and snails. Many of these inverts have freshwater cousins, which can be used for your purpose.

Dean

p.s. There are also fish in both types of aquaria, which feed on algae.

 

[herman]

Wingo, what kind of substrate and filter are you using. And what type of plants are in your tank? Just be as detailed as possible. Then we can help you better.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

More details about the tank

Hehe, it's all salt water stuff in a fresh water tank!

Shells from the beaches, crushed coral FREE from a MR member, a lot of strange looking shells bought from Cancun during my vacation.

Java moss from long long time ago, just added some green hedge and an Asain plant (forgot the name-supposingly hard to grow). This tank is not heavy in plants.

Recently added a DIY of DIY CO'2 (the 2nd DIY means it's not an automated one-will elobrate on this in the furture)

A 2 x 65W 67000K and actinic PC bought from a follow MR member-running more than 12 hours a day. I know it's not the right bulb but too poor to change recently and I know I ran it for too long but I love watching in the light. I will get a timer to cut down the run time.

However, I think the real reason for this is a recent change of food from my DIY krill(yeah I made them myself) to commercial flakes which made a lot of dust when my cichlid bite on them. A lot of the falling off pieces are left on the bottom unlike used to be when all the krill are finished in 3 seconds. And since I don't run the filter(Eheim 2213 from a MR member) too often due to nosie issue. I guess the extra food is supplying the aglae what they need :irked: I will try the pallet food and if still no good, I will switch back to my old krill. My other heavily planted tanks with filters always on do not experience this problem even though I also change the food as well. Newly added nutrients must have been used up before they can even supply the algae . The substrate fine coral sand(very beautiful sand you won't find in around NY beaches) from Cancun too.

Wingo, what kind of substrate and filter are you using. And what type of plants are in your tank? Just be as detailed as possible. Then we can help you better.

 

[herman]

In my experience with planted freshwater tanks., I have always used two layers of substrate. The bottom layer is sand from Nature Aquatic Goods followed by aqua earth by the same company. The first layer is where the bacteria colonize and the second layer is where everything gets planted. Any kind of fertilizer is also placed in the second layer.

A common mistake people make is to plant everything in the first layer of sand. This leads the roots of the plant to rot and eventually the plant will retreat, brown out and die adding to the nutrient level in the tank.

The filtration is a very important aspect of a planted tank. I used the superjet filter. Remember that filters need to be cleaned regularly so there is no buildup in there again adding nutrients into the tank. I added a flow meter available on ebay for under 20 bucks to keep an eye on the flow through the filter. If the flow drops, it is an indication that you need to clean/change the filter.

Another important aspect is the Co2 with a proper difuser. A planted tank is very delicate if you are trying to achieve an aquatic garden like Amano. You need to constantly test the waters, just like in reef tanks.

Having the correct light temperature is another major factor. Certain temperatures will spark algae to grow if your water is to rich in nutrients.

I could go on and on cause a planted tank is just as complicated as a reef tank if you do it right.

Can you post a picture of your problem tank?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I have always used two layers of substrate.

:shocked1:

What a great reminder. I used to do that when I was a kid but have forgotten it for the longest time. Thanks.

When I can get a camera, I try to post it up.

 

[herman]

You can find good use cameras on ebay or locally on www.craigslist.org If you ever have a Q on the planted tank just send me a PM. Ill try my best to answer your questions.
Regards,
Herman

 

[kimoyo]

Algae is removed from live rock in saltwater aquariums through the use of hermits crabs, conchs, starfish and snails. Many of these inverts have freshwater cousins, which can be used for your purpose.

I have this baserock from www.reeferrocks.com that has a green film algae on it that just won't go away. I have astreas and ceriths in the tank already but they don't really do anything. Any suggestions?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I have this baserock from www.reeferrocks.com that has a green film algae on it that just won't go away. I have astreas and ceriths in the tank already but they don't really do anything. Any suggestions?

I know a crew of aglae eating shrimps would do a great job but that method would not work for my tank, since small shrimps will be torn to pieces by my fish and big ones will eat my fish in the other hand. I most likely go for snails but generally they are unsightly. Still have not decide what to do in my case.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Take em out and scrub em with rock prep or something.

 

[FRY]

on my fresh water i soak the rocks in a pail with water and plain clorox ,then when its clean purge the rocks in clean pail water i purge it 3 times and the rocks comes out clean,

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Sound DEADLY but I think it will work just that.....

on my fresh water i soak the rocks in a pail with water and plain clorox ,then when its clean purge the rocks in clean pail water i purge it 3 times and the rocks comes out clean,

my tank is full of smaller pcs of things-not just big rocks. They are mostly shells that I put together to form caves and hills. Taking them out is easy but putting them back to reconstruct the aquascaping will kill more than day.

By the way, the yellow algae now becomes green ones and the cichlids don't seem to like eating them anymore. Fortunately, this algae does not cause green water.