Algae problem with rock purchased from another saltwater aquarium

[chrispmcgill]

This is my first saltwater aquarium...so I am still learning a lot.

I have a 75G aquarium I am working on setting up and I have created a mess. I purchased 75 lbs of live rock from a guy selling it on craigslist. I have the pics below. It appears there is a LOT of green algae on the rock. All I have in the aquarium right now is the live rock and roughly 25G of saltwater. I don't know what my next move should be. What do I need to do?

Thanks for any help provided.

More info: I don't think its bryopsis. I talked to the guy I got it from and he was not using RODI water, or doing regular water changes and the TDI levels were high. Also the rock is from Fiji.

I would like to have coral and fish in the aquarium eventually. Not sure if that changes the solution.

http://s1172.photobucket.com/albums/r569/chrispmcgill/

[profntbtr]

let it run for a while, I'd actually say you got some pretty nice rock. Arrange it the way you want, then let it cycle

[Bill S]

As long as the algae isn't bryopsis (google it for photos), I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you even THINK it's bryopsis, remove it immediately, freeze it, then let it dry for a few weeks.

[chrispmcgill]

Thanks for the reply's. I don't think its bryopsis. I talked to the guy I got it from and he was not using RODI water, or doing regular water changes and the TDI levels were high. So you don't think I need to cook the rock?

[ErikH]

H2O2=Hydrogen Peroxide

http://reefbuilders.com/2010/03/29/uses-for-hydrogen-peroxide-in-the-aquarium-algae-removal/

[betiuminside]

I would put some fresh salt water in a bucket and scrub the hell out of that route... it looks like it needs a brush anyways... To me, it looks like it has a lot of die off stuff in it too.
And then place it back and let the tank cycle..., since you have algae on your rocks, or whatever is going to be left, the cycle will be longer I believe. After this, I would recommend good quality salt water and water changes every 2 weeks 20%.
You could buy a lot of equipment to reduce phosphates and nitrates but I keep up with the water changes every 2 weeks and for me there's no need for all that equipment.
I do have a FOWLR and I feed heavy and my DT is algae free. Good luck

[chrispmcgill]

I would like to have coral and fish in the aquarium eventually. Not sure if that changes the solution.

[allan]

at the very least I would seriously blow off all of that excess detritus and silt. That first picture looks like it has a lot of sediment layered onto the rock and bottom of the tank.

[chrispmcgill]

I am thinking about swashing the rock to get as much sediment off and then brushing off as much algae as possible. Then spot treat with H202 on whatever is left. Mixing up fresh salt water then cooking it in 5 gallon buckets. Is that too much overkill? Since the tank is not fully set up, I want to make sure I do this right to prevent fighting algae problems with coral and fish to work around.

[ErikH]

Dude just H2O2 them in some buckets, put them back in the display. Skim wet, and manually remove what's left. If you're running a fuge, that should help gobble up the excess nutrients.

[allan]

What ever you do, do NOT swish the rocks around in that tank!!! Get yourself a plastic bucket or something and count how many times you bang the rock against the sides.