Toss live rock or keep?

[Kristen9]

I'm starting up my second tank, but my first tank (12 gallon) doesn't have ANY problems, so this is the first time I've had worry about this... anyway.....

 

I'm starting up a 34 gallon tank with an Metal halide light (I'm very excited about this) Because I'm on a budget, I bought 40 pounds of live rock got for a great deal... unfortunately, it has those little starfish on it, and now I see green bubble algle. It also doesn't have much coralline on it.

 

So should I treat these pest with a harlequin shrimp and little green crab for the bubble algae, or toss it and get better live rock???

Also, I like the branching look of Tonga rock rather than this clumpy stuff, but I figured when its covered with coral I wont care :P

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

[TonyInVa]

It would depend on personal preference. As far as whether to go with the clumpy stuff or branching tonga, it depends on how you want to aquascape. If we saw picks we could give you are personal opinion. The little star fish may eat coraline algae. Believe it or not some people do not want coraline algae. It uses up calcium that could be used by coral.

[hypertech]

Never ever toss it. That's a total waste. If you want a redo, give it an acid wash.

[Brian Ward]

Never ever toss it. That's a total waste. If you want a redo, give it an acid wash.

 

It's going to be nearly impossible to get algae-free live rock. Control your nitrates and pick off the bubble algae and you'll be fine. If you insist on redoing, you can cook the rock to kill off everything and then seed it in your tank with other live rock or live sand. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it - good husbandry will take care of the algae. As far as the asterina stars, you're going to end up with those too so once again, don't worry about it. Remove them if you don't like them as you see them around.

[Incredible Corals]

It's going to be nearly impossible to get algae-free live rock. Control your nitrates and pick off the bubble algae and you'll be fine. If you insist on redoing, you can cook the rock to kill off everything and then seed it in your tank with other live rock or live sand. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it - good husbandry will take care of the algae. As far as the asterina stars, you're going to end up with those too so once again, don't worry about it. Remove them if you don't like them as you see them around.

 

+1 on that.

 

Also the Tonga rock is so heavy and usually cost an arm and a leg. Look at my tank, I did it all with "clumpy" rock. You don't need Tonga to get the branches.

 

This is the video of my tank to give you some ideas...

 

http://www.wamas.org/forums/topic/39244-video-of-the-new-cube/page__p__334434__fromsearch__1entry334434

[Jan]

Be very careful not to burst the bubble algae in your system. It will release spores and reproduce rapidly. Take the rock out and pick off the bubble algae gently with tweezers or cut just underneath it to get some of the rock with it. It's tedious work but it will save you a lot of headache in the long run. Pick off whatever starfish you see too. I would suggest that you soak whatever rock you wont be using in 1 part beach to 10 parts water then rinse it well with tap water and put it out in the sun to dry. Chlorine dissipates as it dries. so there will be no ill effects from this method. You'll have to cycle these rocks when you're ready to use them again.

[zoozilla]

I vote to Keep it. Pick off as much of the bubble algae as possible and cook the rock.

 

+1 on LR being quite expensive especially for the "Good" stuff

[davelin315]

No reason to toss it, the bubble algae will eventually be gone, even if you do break a bunch of it in your system. It will starve itself of nutrients if you are able to get your system balanced and cleaned up in the long run, although it may take time. I actually don't really mind valonia that much as it doesn't grow in my display as the fish eat it and it only appears in one of my sumps. That said, depending on the nutrient load in your tank, it can disappear or limit itself. I had a huge problem with it before in one sump where it was 2-3" thick around each wall but then it began to die off due to starvation from no nutrients and I am now back to almost none. I would suggest that since it's a new tank, just put the rock in a bucket, swish it around to get the bubble algae off, then scrub the rest off with a toothbrush or your hand, rinse it again, and put it back in the tank if you really want it gone that badly. With the asterina stars, you'll get them again and again no matter what you do as most if not all people have them in their tanks. Trying to eliminate them completely is like trying to eliminate all microfauna in your tank, whether you see it or not, it's there!