Changing out rock

[Aslmx]

My rock is beyond saving because of aptasia. If I reseed some dead rock in another tank, can I change the rock out without starting a new cycle?

[mrtint]

Did u try peppermint shrimp? My sump had aiptasia. I put 15 in the sump and didn’t feed. Aitasia is gone. They don’t always eat them but they are cheap enough to try


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[Daddi0]

Here is what I do:
- fill a bucket half full of straight white vinegar
- put a rock in
- soak for 5 minutes
- rinse rock and pop right back into reef
Works great, just dont breathe the vapor from the bucket.
Cheers! Mark

[Aslmx]

Originally Posted by mrtint

Did u try peppermint shrimp? My sump had aiptasia. I put 15 in the sump and didn’t feed. Aitasia is gone. They don’t always eat them but they are cheap enough to try


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I think I’m too far for that. I’ve tried them on other tanks with no great results. I’ve tried file fish but my yellow tang harassed the crap out of him.

[Aslmx]

Originally Posted by Daddi0

Here is what I do:
- fill a bucket half full of straight white vinegar
- put a rock in
- soak for 5 minutes
- rinse rock and pop right back into reef
Works great, just dont breathe the vapor from the bucket.
Cheers! Mark

This is interesting. So it would have no ill affect on corals or fish? I’m more worried about fish. I have some clowns that are 12 years old and I don’t want to harm them.

[Daddi0]

I wouldnt do all your rocks at once but people add vinegar to their reefs all the time.
Cheers! Mark

[mcgyvr]

Originally Posted by Aslmx

My rock is beyond saving because of aptasia. If I reseed some dead rock in another tank, can I change the rock out without starting a new cycle?

If you cycle the other tank with rock in it then yes you can easily swap one cycled tanks rocks for another..

Cycling is the process of establishing a large bacterial population in a system. Most of that bacteria colonizes on the surfaces of that system like on the rock/in the sand,etc... When you transfer rock from one system to another the bacteria will stay on and survive on that rock during transfer provided you keep the rock wet/damp.

[bertoni]

Changing out the rock might cause some cycling effects. The issue is that exposing live rock to air can cause problems. That said, such changes usually have only mild effects. I would have some Amquel or Prime on hand, and some water for changes, but I wouldn't worry too much.

One issue is that there might be some Aiptasia in the water column. They do have a mobile phase.

You could consider some of the Berghia to knock down the vast bulk of the Aiptasia, and then count on peppermint shrimp or the like to keep the levels down. I don't know of a way to get all of the Aiptasia, but dipping the rock in a vinegar solution might do it. I haven't had rock get that bad.

Switching out the rock sounds like a reasonable approach, too.