How do you remove hitchhikers from LR?

[hugeness]

I bought some LR that is fully cured from someone local who gave up on his tank. Unfortunately one of the reasons appears to be some evil lil gremlins living in the rock. I want to get all the critters out before putting it in my tank. Is there a way to do this without having to recure the rock after the mass genocide? IE is there a way to coax them out instead of killing them and all life where they stand?

[saltwater_wannabe]

If you ask them nicely, they will probably leave.

The real answer is that you need to get some pics of said gremlins and we can help you get rid of said evilness..or at least give us a really good description to start with.

Good luck with the new LR!

Brian

[hugeness]

Yah I guess that was a lil vague. It has both a bad bubble algae infestation and fireworms as well as a host of beneficial critters.

I'm also open to suggestions on how to destroy all life in these rocks quickly and "painlessly". So I can go ahead and start the curing asap.

[saltwater_wannabe]

Originally Posted by hugeness

Yah I guess that was a lil vague. It has both a bad bubble algae infestation and fireworms as well as a host of beneficial critters.

I'm also open to suggestions on how to destroy all life in these rocks quickly and "painlessly". So I can go ahead and start the curing asap.

I would spend a little time scrubbing off the bubble algae before you put it in your tank. Otherwise, keep an eye on your Nitrate levels and most of the nuisance algae will die off if there's no food source. Besides, if the LR is fully cured you shouldn't need to 're-cure' it.

I had a ton of short green and red hair algae on my liverock before I put them in my new 75g. Now that I am doing more frequent water changes, the hair algae is flaking off on it's own.

HTH

[Hardhead Cat]

I agree with Brian, I think the problems you are having with this rock will take care of themselves eventually. Time, good water quality and patience will rid your tank of bubble algaes and other "pest" algaes (hair, slime, etc.) - as far as the critters - if you can identify them, you can either get a predator for your tank that feeds on those critters or just leave them alone, if they aren't going to hurt anything in the reef.

Just my $.02.

HHC

[tashier]

Well, I think if you had it in really cold water most of all the critters would die off without losing the bacteria and having to recure it. I've been cooking some LR and it got pretty cold in the garage and I've been finding all the dead critters floating around in the water.

[LilB0506]

ok, stupid question but what exactly do fireworms look like? because i saw a thread here a few days ago with one in it and it looked like these little guys i have everywhere in my tank, but i was told they were bristle worms and they were good