How to remove algae from Dragon Rock

[Doug]

I have about 40kg of dragon rock in my tank. I do a 50% water change every 2 weeks, but if I miss it because of buysiness travel etc, it becomes overloaded with algae. I sue a brush to scrub the rock but it never really removes it all.... any idea how I get remove it?

Could I remove the rock, scrub it, bleach it, rinse, soak, scrub, rinse, soak and then return to the tank?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

a brush to scrub the rock but it never really removes it all.... any idea how I get remove it?

It is a <"natural feature"> on rocks, basically a <"green patina of periphyton"> will grow on any wet surface where <"light and nutrients are available">. You can only keep them "pristine" with cleaning, either manually or by <"snail grazing">.

Snails are the answer <"All hail the nerite snail">.

Could I remove the rock, scrub it, bleach it, rinse, soak, scrub, rinse, soak and then return to the tank?

You could, but it will just grow again if conditions are suitable. If your <"problem"> is with green algae? They are just <"plants">, if conditions are suitable for the plants you want? They are also suitable for the plants you don't want.

cheers Darrel