Valonia vs Bleach - Round 1 - Ding! Ding!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by i2as kass

No point in nuking the rock when you can go with a much more natural way like sphelps has suggested.

We're talking about 25-30lbs of rock here, so it's not much pocket damage risk. Buying critters to eat Valonia is VERY hit or miss. My tank is as stocked as I ever want it to be. There isn't room for any more critters.

I did think of adding an Emerald crab recently, so I made up a poll on CanReef, and it seems like the chances of an Emerald crab eating Valonia is rather slim!

Anyone have a Valonia eating Emerald crab they want to lend me???

[untamed]

I wish I knew WHY I've never had problems with Valonia...my tanks have always had some but it has never multiplied to any problem level.

If you don't already have one, try adding a refugium. Grow some good algae there (maybe even valonia). That may use up nutrients and the valonia won't be able to get out of control in the main tank. You'll likely still have to weed it manually out of the display until you get growth in the 'fuge, though.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by untamed

I wish I knew WHY I've never had problems with Valonia...my tanks have always had some but it has never multiplied to any problem level.

If you don't already have one, try adding a refugium. Grow some good algae there (maybe even valonia). That may use up nutrients and the valonia won't be able to get out of control in the main tank. You'll likely still have to weed it manually out of the display until you get growth in the 'fuge, though.

This is the first tank I've ever had that had any issues with Valonia...and I've had a lot of tanks over the last 15 years.

I don't have a fuge on this tank, but I'm in the process of moving it over to a 40g breeder, and I'm trying to figure out a way to NOT move the Valonia with it! The 40g will have a fuge built into the sump, do you think I should just bite the bullet, move it over, and hope the fuge takes care of it all?

[mark]

I would stay away from bleach even with Prime. Likely you'll kill off everything else beneficial and some spores of the bubble would survive.

[Marlin65]

I had some of that as well but it just died off and went away. I run some other Macros in a fuge though. My PO4 is at 0.04 and my NO3 is always zero.
I don't run a phosphate remover and feed heavy every day. I think a large fuge is the way to go. That is why mine is almost the same size as my tank.
Anyway I think you might be able to get rid of it with your fuge as well.
Some of that smaller grape stuff is hard to come by and does not grow that quick. I would try to keep some of that.

[slakker]

Something tells me if your gonna bleach, you might as well start over with dry base rock or something... could be cheaper and for sure you won't have anything livign on it!

I had a few, but lucky I caught it by hand picking them off...

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Marlin65

Some of that smaller grape stuff is hard to come by and does not grow that quick. I would try to keep some of that.

Do you mean the smaller Valonia? I have at least two different species of Valonia. One is tiny, and elongated. The other is the usual big round globes.

Well, I haven't bleached it yet...I'll see what I can do with a waterchange and manual removal tomorrow. Maybe I will wait it out awhile longer since the tank is finally coming back round now that the Banger babies aren't in there anymore.

[marie]

Originally Posted by Myka

Do you mean the smaller Valonia? I have at least two different species of Valonia. One is tiny, and elongated. The other is the usual big round globes.

Well, I haven't bleached it yet...I'll see what I can do with a waterchange and manual removal tomorrow. Maybe I will wait it out awhile longer since the tank is finally coming back round now that the Banger babies aren't in there anymore.

I think if you decide to try emerald crabs you'll find they are good at erradicating the tiny elongated stuff. In my experience that is the ones they go for first. I think the large ones are tough skinned and less edible.
My foxface and tang play football with the large valonia when they break free of their moorings and it seems to stand up well to all the abuse