Acid, rock and cycling

[Donaldf973]

Got sick a few months ago and couldn't maintain my tanks and keep feather caulerpa in check. It wrecked havoc on 2 tanks and I've tried massive pruning down to the rock surface every other day for the past 2-3 months with lights out and this stuff is a lush forest by the end of the week. I run gfo aggressively, an eshopp hob skimmer, carbon and even vodka dosed for 4-5 months but and no results.

I bought 2 gallons of muriatic acid 33% and wonder once I strip the rocks how long of a cycle would I expect? The usual month or a quick one since I'll be using seachem bottled bacteria.

 

[sbash]

I'll be using seachem bottled bacteria.

The implications of this product speak for itself:

"Fish and other aquatic species may be introduced at any time as long as dosage is maintained for 7 days"

However, 'ghost' feed the tank daily (or dose ammonia) when you start the bottled bacteria, test for ammonia daily. Give it a week, if you do not see a spike, then you are probably good to go... Better safe than sorry...

 

[Donaldf973]

Thanks for the advice. My rock is about 10 years old so I figured it was time to strip them and the aggressive algae made it a final decision just wasn't sure if the cure process could be that fast. Only thing I have to keep alive is 3 clowns, a leather coral and some zoas.

 

[jeff williams]

I would dose the stability add 1 ppm ammonia then start testing on day two, once the ammonia starts to drop test nitrite once it spikes and drops to 0 do a water change and you should be ok to start slowly adding fish. it usually takes a few weeks

 

[mfinn]

Got sick a few months ago and couldn't maintain my tanks and keep feather caulerpa in check. It wrecked havoc on 2 tanks and I've tried massive pruning down to the rock surface every other day for the past 2-3 months with lights out and this stuff is a lush forest by the end of the week. I run gfo aggressively, an eshopp hob skimmer, carbon and even vodka dosed for 4-5 months but and no results.

I bought 2 gallons of muriatic acid 33% and wonder once I strip the rocks how long of a cycle would I expect? The usual month or a quick one since I'll be using seachem bottled bacteria.

If you need to remove organic matter from live rock, bleach works better than acid.