Bleach - Not what I expected

[twistedfinn967]

The other day I posted about wanting to nuke a rock covered with ugly green/brown palys. I pretty much resided to using bleach to get the job done. The bleach I have on hand is Seventh Generation brand non chlorine bleach.

Problem is, it's not the traditional bleach that I was hoping for. This stuff is comprised of Hydrogen Peroxide (3.5% - 4.5%) and distilled water. That's it. I'm thinking this won't have the catastrophic effect that I was hoping for, do I need to get the hypochlorite solution?

Thanks!

 

[reefndude]

Everything will die if you let it sit in the bleach. Peroxide and freshwater...no marine life will live

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Since you have it, I'd try it, but it may not remove all organic matter the way sodium hypochlorite would.

 

[twistedfinn967]

Thanks for the reply Randy, that's what I was looking for. Since bleach is cheap, I'll pick up a bottle get to eradicating!

 

[brandon429]

the most effective way you can remove them safely in my opinion is simply qt that rock in the dark, in circulation so it doesnt recycle, for a few mos and those paly's w recede and fall off. chipping from up under them works and is dangerous for obvious reasons, they cannot survive mos in total darkness and no feed and emerge with the same biomass, it will be used up and they'llcome right off prob in the container during sometime. the peroxide listed will do nothingto remove them as a soak, set up a test container to see.

put some palys in just fw and let them sit as they die due to osmotics

in test #2 put that peroxide mix in there, see if that speeds them up from the same condition they have in the water only container. 4% is weak

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the reply Randy, that's what I was looking for. Since bleach is cheap, I'll pick up a bottle get to eradicating!

You're welcome and good luck.

 

[cu455]

The hydrogen peroxide might not be strong enough to kill the polyps. You can heat the hydrogen peroxide, causing the water from the solution to evaporate. You want it to slightly boil. If you heat it up to much then the hydrogen peroxide molecules will break down.

The percent increase of hydrogen peroxide left in the solution will be the same as the percent of water which has been removed. I would try and get at least a 35% hydrogen peroxide solution.

Bleach will be the eaiser and cheaper method. But If you like doing little experiments the hydrogen peroxide will work. You won't have to dip your whole rock. You can squirt the polyps with a baster while still in your tank.