Help Needed With Tank Restart

[PaulM]

Well, I am approaching the end of my Algae-x treatment and it looks like it did nothing. Bryopsis is still green and thriving. I decided to replace all the rock and sand in the tank. I ordered 50 lbs of marco key largo rock. I am looking for advise on the best way to go about this. I am assuming should slowly remove the rock from the tank while cycling the new rock in a tub. Also, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as far as things I should do to the tank while everything is out of it.(Except cuc and fish and anemone). Any input would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Hawkeye]

maybe pick up an ammonia badge and place in the DT to have ready access to see whether the ammonia is creeping up due to the LR being removed. If you are doing it slow it's unlikely - but just in case.

fyi - in the new tank - see if you can boost mag levels with kent tech m - i plan on doing this in the future. My bryopsis is annoying and ugly and I've been using a brush to manually remove and siphon. I think the higher mag levels is slowing it's bounce back.

 

[Patriot76]

i understand your frustration, if you do decide to beat this algae instead of re-doing your whole tank, here is my advice.

increasing the mag levels does help, but i didnt have the results with this process as some others reported- all bryposis gone within a few days. i raised the mag up to i believe 1700 (which is not cheap when you have 250 gallons) and pulled out as much as i could. just remember to shut off all pumps and powerheads when weeding to prevent spreading. and have a net handy for any floating particals that you cannt remove by hand.

best of luck to you!

 

[BobnKate]

I went to 1900 on mine.... doesn’t work on hair algae unfortunately. Same as patriot, it wasn’t over night and I had to pull and siphon to get it out, but it stopped it. Now I get an occasional patch…

Bob

 

[ds4x4]

used tech m on my tank since i had a few spots of bryopsis left. supposedly it's not necessarily the mag level but something in the Kent Tech M that kills off the algae..

worked for me!

 

[BobnKate]

I thought it was the mag level... but I did happen to use Kent Tech M but coincidence...

Bob

 

[PaulM]

I tried the Tech-M all it seemed to do is slow the growth. I have been messing with this for about a year now and this is not enjoyable or cheap. I figured I would give it one more shot before draining the tank.

 

[magic]

Paul

Great rock but when you cure it do it outside! There have been a lot of post about Marco Rock and the smell during curing.

Bob

 

[BobnKate]

I know what you mean. My tank was full of bryopsis couple of years ago after bad salt crashed the tank. It did take a couple of months for me to get rid of it, mostly - it still pops up from time to time. (siphon, scrub, water change, mag, carbon) I've thought about starting over because of hair algae (and wanting to redo my rockwork). Hmmm… I’ve been looking for an excuse to get a 120 anyway…

the unmagical Bob

 

[Baxreefs]

Algae! Ugh!!! Fought it for ever in every start up of each upgrade or move so far. I have found that high mag along with alk are big in slowing the growth, but only physical removal gets it out. Then it turns to husbandry such as feeding habits, water changes, water source, etc.

As for the Marco Rock, soak it in RODI water first and change that water often, swishing the rock each time. It will leech tons, no I mean huge volumes of PO4. That PO4 will only feed into the algal issue. Then after the RODI soaking, start the curing/seeding process.

Good luck!

 

[PaulM]

The tank has Marco rock in it now so I am familiar with the stink and process. Isn't the new rock supposed to be pre cleaned?

 

[Patriot76]

new tanks to me equal more algae problems. my advice would to be combat your current situation. i would hate to see you spend a ton of loot only to end up back in the same spot.