rock and hair algae

[cent36]

So for the past months I have been getting hair algae. Some of you may remember my posts and plight. It all came down to the old dried up rock I used to start the tank and leaching phosphates. I was told emphatically NOT to bake my rock or I would incur the wrath of the cycle again.

Instead of all that, I removed, scrubbed and replaced all my rock. The algae came back so now my question is....... Can I slowly start replacing all of my rock with live rock from a trusted source like an LFS? Will that recycle me?

 

[High Plains Reefer]

you shouldnt get much of a cycle if you keep it wet

 

[zombie]

Only if it is truly live rock. The vast majority of live rock from LFS is dry rock that has cured in a holding tank for many months. Break a piece open. If its white inside, it wont help you one bit.

 

[cent36]

The lfs will let you break it open? How do you break rocks without a pickaxe?

 

[zombie]

Some of the more slender pieces can be broken by hand without tools.

 

[deboy69]

That's not really going to tell you anything especially if they keep adding new rock to it every so often. And I doubt they will let you break open a piece

 

[cent36]

So then how do you tell TRUE live rock?

 

[zombie]

The only way Im aware of is to break a piece open. True live rock is brown on the inside.

 

[SkyShark]

So then how do you tell TRUE live rock?

Find a LFS that you trust and ask.