How often should I clean live rock?

[mrsgoose]

Hi - I've got about 30 lbs lr in my 29g, been up and running about 2 mos now. When I bought the rock from the lfs the guy told me to get a turkey baster and ocassionally squirt the rocks free of sediment etc. that blocks the pores. It seems I can do this every day and there's always something to blow off! I have 2 powerheads each circulating 175gph set at opposite ends of the tank, one pointing toward the front, the other toward the back. There seems to be good flow throughout.
How often should I be squirting the rocks? I have fish only for now and am looking to add some easy corals soon. Does anyone else do this?

 

[vtfishies]

hi, i've never physically used a baster to do that..although have heard of it done..mainly to tanks that dont have sufficient flow..i have a 75 with 4 power heads one in each corner pointing if different directions..when ur ready for some easy corals..i will have some mushrooms ( various) and gsp's..i'm local so possibly could pick up?...

 

[watson3]

I am not sure that once you put fish in the tank you continue to do this...

 

[mrsgoose]

Originally Posted by vtfishies
hi, i've never physically used a baster to do that..although have heard of it done..mainly to tanks that dont have sufficient flow..i have a 75 with 4 power heads one in each corner pointing if different directions..when ur ready for some easy corals..i will have some mushrooms ( various) and gsp's..i'm local so possibly could pick up?...
Hi - thanks for the response. I'm in Burlington... and am looking to add some corals since I just updated my lights. I'm waiting for my calcium to get a bit higher. Right now it's around 380. Am working on getting it over 400. I'd love some ricordea, green or orange - do you have any of those? Maybe some hairy mushroom, too, that my perc clowns might host. I'm considering ordering from this site. Which lfs do you go to? I think Pet Advantage is the only one around town to stock SW stuff.

 

[mrsgoose]

Originally Posted by watson3
I am not sure that once you put fish in the tank you continue to do this...
Oh- why not? I'm not blowing off anything dead, just some sand and silty stuff. Whenever I do that all sorts of things opo out of the rock and extend threads of stuff to catch whatever's floating by.

 

[dskrezyna]

Originally Posted by watson3
I am not sure that once you put fish in the tank you continue to do this...
Agreed. I have never heard of anyone cleaning LR once it's in the tank unless they are removing pesky algae.

 

[teen]

you need more flow in your tank to prevent all that junk from settling in the first place. it should be suspended in the water and then taken out by your filter/skimmer.
try adding another powerhead or two. whats your flow like now?

 

[cam78]

I was told at the LFS its fine to do that, he gave me the same advise. I usually do it when I'm doing a water change so this way I can suck up as much of the particles floating around as possible. Am I wrong for doing this? I have fish and coral.

 

[vtfishies]

Originally Posted by mrsgoose
Hi - thanks for the response. I'm in Burlington... and am looking to add some corals since I just updated my lights. I'm waiting for my calcium to get a bit higher. Right now it's around 380. Am working on getting it over 400. I'd love some ricordea, green or orange - do you have any of those? Maybe some hairy mushroom, too, that my perc clowns might host. I'm considering ordering from this site. Which lfs do you go to? I think Pet Advantage is the only one around town to stock SW stuff.
i'm in fairfax..i have a maroon ric..good size..just got done splitting..i have reg mushrooms..380 is not that bad..have u tried kent marine calcium..works well IMO..i dont go to pet advantage..gave me some bad advice last april..i go to Milton mini reef..just got my MH lights from there today...i did respond to ur last post with my email..do u have yahoo?

 

[sigmachris]

Something that has worked for me...when removing water for a water change I keep the flexible hosing close to the LR to vaccum up any sediment that is laying around.

 

[mrsgoose]

Originally Posted by teen
you need more flow in your tank to prevent all that junk from settling in the first place. it should be suspended in the water and then taken out by your filter/skimmer.
try adding another powerhead or two. whats your flow like now?
I've to two phs in there now, total of 350gph circulation. It's only a 29g tank. I don't have a skimmer yet, but I do have a HOB filter. It's only got the sponge part in it, since I took the white bio-bag out that has the carbon in it. Should I put the bag back in w/o carbon to help trap some of the particles? And I'm not literally scrubbing the rocks or anything, justblowing stuff off. Ive heard of people taking small powerheads to do just that.
The tank is just 2 mos old. Do I really need a skimmer?

 

[mrsgoose]

Originally Posted by vtfishies
i'm in fairfax..i have a maroon ric..good size..just got done splitting..i have reg mushrooms..380 is not that bad..have u tried kent marine calcium..works well IMO..i dont go to pet advantage..gave me some bad advice last april..i go to Milton mini reef..just got my MH lights from there today...i did respond to ur last post with my email..do u have yahoo?
Hi again, thanks for our response - I don't have yahoo. It's kmachanic@hotmail.com
I'll have to go check out that place in Milton - I don't like having just one lfs to go to. I haven't heard of a maroon ric - do you have a pic? I imagine it's gorgeous!

 

[scrapman]

I did a thread a while ago about the turkey baster being the "tool of the year"
Don't understimate it.
I blow my rocks every other day (it takes 3 mns and helps me to discover new growths and to love my rocks even more!)... The filters suck off the debris in no time.... the result is rocks perfectly clean, brillant/vibrant colors.
The fish are happier, so are the inverts.... and me!

 

[mrsgoose]

Originally Posted by scrapman
I did a thread a while ago about the turkey baster being the "tool of the year"
Don't understimate it.
I blow my rocks every other day (it takes 3 mns and helps me to discover new growths and to love my rocks even more!)... The filters suck off the debris in no time.... the result is rocks perfectly clean, brillant/vibrant colors.
The fish are happier, so are the inverts.... and me!
Yay! Glad I'm not the only one! I don't see how it can hurt. BUT, should I have more filtration in place? Do I REALLY need a skimmer? Should I have something other than the black sponge thing that came in my HOB filter in there? I feel like everytime I "baste" the rocks the stuff flies around, runs through the HOB and just gets dumped in again. I'm hesitant to spend big$$ on a filter. This hobby is draining my wallet as it is!

 

[vtfishies]

Originally Posted by mrsgoose
Hi again, thanks for our response - I don't have yahoo. It's kmachanic@hotmail.com
I'll have to go check out that place in Milton - I don't like having just one lfs to go to. I haven't heard of a maroon ric - do you have a pic? I imagine it's gorgeous!
this is an older pic..there are 3 huge ones now lol..i dont have the cam anymore..lookin for one that fits my preference lol..and i added u to msn..

 

[julie853]

I use my turkey baster about every three days on my LR.It only takes a couple of minutes and then my filters sucks up everything that came off the LR.When I first heard about using the turkey baster I thought what a great idea and have been doing it ever since. :cheer:

 

[ruaround]

just use one of your power heads to "dust" off your LR... alot easier than squeezing a turkey baster repeatedly...

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by ruaround
just use one of your power heads to "dust" off your LR... alot easier than squeezing a turkey baster repeatedly...
Then what would we all do with our turkey basters? :notsure: I thoroughly enjoy squeezing the bulb, and my trigger likes to play with it while I "squirt" off my rocks. Yes, I am a rock baster.
Oh yeah, I baste once a month...bristle worms leave rock sediment outside their holes.

 

[acrylic51]

Originally Posted by teen
you need more flow in your tank to prevent all that junk from settling in the first place. it should be suspended in the water and then taken out by your filter/skimmer.
try adding another powerhead or two. whats your flow like now?
Using a turkey baster is an excellent idea and doesn't have anything to do with needing more flow....You could have mad massive flow, but it just doesn't get into every nook and cranny......2 thumbs up for your LFS.....

Use the turkey baster during your maintenance.....it also will kick up some goodies (food) for your corals as well.......
I even take a toothbrush to my LR........

And I have roughly 60-65x turnover rate in my system!!!!!!

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by acrylic51

Using a turkey baster is an excellent idea and doesn't have anything to do with needing more flow....You could have mad massive flow, but it just doesn't get into every nook and cranny......2 thumbs up for your LFS.....

Use the turkey baster during your maintenance.....it also will kick up some goodies (food) for your corals as well.......
I even take a toothbrush to my LR........

And I have roughly 60-65x turnover rate in my system!!!!!!
You still use a turkey baster even in an established tank? You just give it a blast every now and again? Do you have dead spots, or just to give it an extra cleaning or what? I am curious. It seems like a good idea. thanks! :thinking: