Slime in rock barrels

JMorris271 · 05/09/2019, 03:20 PM

Hi fellow reefers
I am in the process of cleaning out my tank to get rid of too many snails and decided that I want to go ahead and do a complete cleaning. I took all of my rock out of the tank and left only the sand. The live rock now smells a deep sulfur smell and there is a sign heavy slime that floating on the water In the barrels. What is that thick slime floating on the water?Will be able to use that rock
and add my fish wants a high put everything back in the tank or do I need to do a complete recycle.
Thanks

mcgyvr · 05/09/2019, 07:30 PM

Likely bacterial slime.. Circulation is required

1claire · 05/10/2019, 01:09 AM

Would you mind taking a photo so that we can see what it is?

JMorris271 · 05/10/2019, 10:42 AM

Resized_20190510_122045 (1).jpg

Picture of the floating slime in a very stinky barrel.
I am wondering what I need to do to put it back into a cleaned tank\
This about 50 lbs of rock that has been in a successful tank
I Just put a circulation in the barrel way too late I know.

j.falk · 05/10/2019, 11:57 AM

If the water stinks you have die off...if you put that back into your tank, you are going to have the tank cycle again...which could take a long time depending on how much die off there is coming off the rocks.

Personally I would take each piece of rock out, scrub it down with a clean toothbrush to remove the dying matter...then rinse them off and then put them back in the tank and let it cycle itself out before putting any fish/inverts back in the tank.

Edit: Or you could cure the rock in your barrel. Take all the rock out, scrub them down, rinse, put them back in the barrel that has been refilled with clean saltwater and a water pump to provide circulation. Let them sit in there for a few days/week and check the water...if it stinks, repeat the process...if not, test the ammonia to see what it's reading. If it's showing ammonia do a water change on the barrel and wait a few more days/week. When the water is no longer reading any ammonia the rock is cured and ready to go back in the display tank.

T_BONE · 05/10/2019, 12:15 PM

I agree with the bacterial slime. I had this in the bottom of my open top barrels that I stored my RO/DI water in. I would do a water change and refrain from putting it into your DT until you have completely cured the rock. Also check for phosphates. I had these issues when I cured some of my old rock just my $.02.

JMorris271 · 05/10/2019, 02:45 PM

I was afraid that was going to be the answer. It will be easier to get it all cleaned off now and out of the house. I will clean it with a small pressure sprayer since I am going to have to start from scratch.
All of this to get rid of 1000 unwanted baby snails about the size of a pea that one of the vendors slipped in on me in an order I put in for a cleanup crew.
:[

T_BONE · 05/10/2019, 03:47 PM

^Outch!!! Hate to hear that!

JMorris271 · 05/11/2019, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMorris271

I was afraid that was going to be the answer. It will be easier to get it all cleaned off now and out of the house. I will clean it with a small pressure sprayer since I am going to have to start from scratch.
All of this to get rid of 1000 unwanted baby snails about the size of a pea that one of the vendors slipped in on me in an order I put in for a cleanup crew.
:[

To clarify, the number of snails started out at about 12

j.falk · 05/11/2019, 04:34 PM

Puffers like to eat snails.

JMorris271 · 05/11/2019, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

Puffers like to eat snails.

I thought of puffers but they couldn't make it in this aggressive tank

moondoggy4 · 05/15/2019, 06:25 PM

Do you or did you have any Zoa's in that tank?

JMorris271 · 05/16/2019, 06:05 AM

No Zoa's

05/09/2019, 03:20 PM	#1
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	Slime in rock barrels Hi fellow reefers I am in the process of cleaning out my tank to get rid of too many snails and decided that I want to go ahead and do a complete cleaning. I took all of my rock out of the tank and left only the sand. The live rock now smells a deep sulfur smell and there is a sign heavy slime that floating on the water In the barrels. What is that thick slime floating on the water?Will be able to use that rock and add my fish wants a high put everything back in the tank or do I need to do a complete recycle. Thanks __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....

05/09/2019, 07:30 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Likely bacterial slime.. Circulation is required __________________ Who me?

05/10/2019, 10:42 AM	#4
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	Resized_20190510_122045 (1).jpg Picture of the floating slime in a very stinky barrel. I am wondering what I need to do to put it back into a cleaned tank\ This about 50 lbs of rock that has been in a successful tank I Just put a circulation in the barrel way too late I know. __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....

05/10/2019, 11:57 AM	#5
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	If the water stinks you have die off...if you put that back into your tank, you are going to have the tank cycle again...which could take a long time depending on how much die off there is coming off the rocks. Personally I would take each piece of rock out, scrub it down with a clean toothbrush to remove the dying matter...then rinse them off and then put them back in the tank and let it cycle itself out before putting any fish/inverts back in the tank. Edit: Or you could cure the rock in your barrel. Take all the rock out, scrub them down, rinse, put them back in the barrel that has been refilled with clean saltwater and a water pump to provide circulation. Let them sit in there for a few days/week and check the water...if it stinks, repeat the process...if not, test the ammonia to see what it's reading. If it's showing ammonia do a water change on the barrel and wait a few more days/week. When the water is no longer reading any ammonia the rock is cured and ready to go back in the display tank. Last edited by j.falk; 05/10/2019 at 12:03 PM.

05/10/2019, 02:45 PM	#7
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	I was afraid that was going to be the answer. It will be easier to get it all cleaned off now and out of the house. I will clean it with a small pressure sprayer since I am going to have to start from scratch. All of this to get rid of 1000 unwanted baby snails about the size of a pea that one of the vendors slipped in on me in an order I put in for a cleanup crew. :[ __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....

05/10/2019, 01:09 AM	#3
1claire Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 28	Would you mind taking a photo so that we can see what it is?

05/10/2019, 12:15 PM	#6
T_BONE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 11	I agree with the bacterial slime. I had this in the bottom of my open top barrels that I stored my RO/DI water in. I would do a water change and refrain from putting it into your DT until you have completely cured the rock. Also check for phosphates. I had these issues when I cured some of my old rock just my $.02.

05/10/2019, 03:47 PM	#8
T_BONE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 11	^Outch!!! Hate to hear that!

05/11/2019, 04:34 PM	#10
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	Puffers like to eat snails.

05/15/2019, 06:25 PM	#12
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Do you or did you have any Zoa's in that tank?

05/16/2019, 06:05 AM	#13
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	No Zoa's __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....