Cleaning my LR

[intruder]

I've had LR in the tank curing for 2 weeks now. Replaced 50% of water and brushed live rock with soft brush 1 week ago. Planning on doing same again but have noticed good growth starting. Should I go ahead and brush the rock again during the upcoming water change, or let it go as is?

intruder

 

[liquid]

I'd only worry about the spots that smell. Snif the rock and see if you can find any areas that smell like rotten eggs. If it does in that area, clean that spot.

Shane

 

[intruder]

I undoubtedly made an over statement when I said "good" growth. Let's say some. That sounds better. Here's what I have starting anew: a white/clear in color, looks a like tree w/branches, about 1/8 inch long. I'd say a dozen little trees on 1 rock. Have growth starting that looks like short red hair on several LR's. Appears to be various worms, not many. 3 small pretty green growths w/round leafs. Several flat red growths. A few worms on my base rock. Is this good, or should I scrub it all?

intruder

 

[liquid]

I'd look thru the Hitchhiker FAQ and see what you've got growing on your rocks: http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/

Smelling the rock is key as there's no real reason to scrub your rock if there's nothing dead on it or in it.

Shane

 

[cdeakle]

Snif and clean technique is good but don't be afraid to scrub all the rock.
I know you dont want to loose any of the good stuff in the process but the last batch of rock I cured was the best yet!

I scrubbed all the rock every water change. I Cured my rock in a garbage can and did 100% water changes weekly for 4-6 weeks scrubing all the rock entirely. This by far is the best rock for me yet and it has had the best growth out of any of them. I now have over 300 or so feather dusters with some mushroom corals growing all over it! I obviously didnt loose anything by scrubbing it and in my opinion it sped up the process by getting alot of the dead stuff off right away......

 

[intruder]

Thanks for the input. Think I'd feel better cleaning it all. I also have brown alge starting up. Some on the live sand and glass. I've been leaving the lights on 10 hours per day. Should I cut the time down following the cleanup and water change?

 

[cdeakle]

The brown algae is probably diatoms. I got them when I first started because I used tap water. They will go away after time granted the water parameters are good and you use ro water.

If you shorten the lighting time the algae wont bloom as bad.

 

[Anonymous]

I periodically use a toothbrush to scrape off any algae growth.