Boiling dead rock??? How to use it afterwards????

[skinz78]

I picked up my new/used aquarium last saturday and the rock that didn't have corals on it has been drying in the sun since. Tonight, I've been busy boiling the old live rock and I'm wondering what everyone else has done when using this method? Any suggestions on using this stuff? I'm guessing it will need to cycle again?

 

[nanojosh]

I"d say a good vinegar and rodi bath is in order. followed by tap water rinse rinse rinse with prime then let dry in sun no and don't let the rain get to it (I don't know why just heard this is not good)

 

[Reefing Madness]

After the boil bath, rinse it out good, then throw it in the tank. All depending on the amount, don't throw a ton in at the same time, as you are correct, it does need to grow bacteria, but if you throw in a few pounds at a time, it won't cycle the tank.

 

[Mr E Wrasse]

I've heard of several cases of people getting extremely sick and having to be hospitalized after boiling their live rock. Apparently there is some nasty bacteria that is lethal when it's boiled and airborne

 

[WatercolorsGuy]

I've heard of several cases of people getting extremely sick and having to be hospitalized after boiling their live rock. Apparently there is some nasty bacteria that is lethal when it's boiled and airborne

Also...don't boil rocks with palys on them. Risk of inhaling aerosolized palytoxin! And that would be very bad!

 

[Doom616]

Yeah had someone close by get hospitalized on the boiled paly thing. Also had someone from the local MAS have to go to the ER after he manager to make a mist from palys using a band saw. Palytoxin is no joke. Oh and rain is a no no due to all of the fun pollutants in the air that gets absorbed when the vapor comes down as water. Mmmmmm acid rain.

 

[Ian]

why would you boil it? Can't you just soak it in RO then dry in the sun? Maybe scrub it a little then soak again?

 

[skinz78]

After the boil bath, rinse it out good, then throw it in the tank. All depending on the amount, don't throw a ton in at the same time, as you are correct, it does need to grow bacteria, but if you throw in a few pounds at a time, it won't cycle the tank.

I just finished boiling about 250 lbs, it's going in my new 210g tank so I think it's pretty safe to say it will need to do a complete cycle before I transfer everything from my 120g to the 210.

I've heard of several cases of people getting extremely sick and having to be hospitalized after boiling their live rock. Apparently there is some nasty bacteria that is lethal when it's boiled and airborne

Also...don't boil rocks with palys on them. Risk of inhaling aerosolized palytoxin! And that would be very bad!

Yeah had someone close by get hospitalized on the boiled paly thing. Also had someone from the local MAS have to go to the ER after he manager to make a mist from palys using a band saw. Palytoxin is no joke. Oh and rain is a no no due to all of the fun pollutants in the air that gets absorbed when the vapor comes down as water. Mmmmmm acid rain.

Haha I went and commandeered my dad's 15g stainless steel crab cooking pot and propane cooker. I did it all outside I've seen the horror stories.

Basically what I did is boiled each batch for at least 5 min and then took them out and pressure washed them. I have a faucet that is before my house pressure regulator and it has so much pressure it's just like a pressure washer with the use of the right spray nozzle.

 

[AXxiumRage]

Wow, good info! Haha I was about to do the same with the rock from my old 55 gal. About to convert it to my frag tank and wanted to start with fresh rock.