Boiling live rock

[Elementalj]

I'll wager to say it was originally on a Facebook news site!

Daft as a brush

 

[Homestead_Dad]

?

 

[Diesel]

I'll wager to say it was originally on a Facebook news site!

Daft as a brush

It's sad that ppl still do it.
It can kill you.
Boiling or cooking there is a world of different here.

 

[Elementalj]

Boiling sir, BOILING.

 

[Diesel]

Boiling sir, BOILING.

Good luck!
It could release toxic fumes and the pressure buildup inside the rocks could cause them to explode (but more likely just break apart).
Last time a hobbyist was trying to do that he ended up in the ER with his family.
There is a thread about that incident here on R2R maybe a #mod or #reefsquad know where to find that.

 

[Elementalj]

Good luck!
It could release toxic fumes and the pressure buildup inside the rocks could cause them to explode (but more likely just break apart).
Last time a hobbyist was trying to do that he ended up in the ER with his family.
There is a thread about that incident here on R2R maybe a #mod or #reefsquad know where to find that.

Precisely my point. I'm just trying to figure out who started the idea so that I can either give them the talking to, or deliver fresh flowers to their mama.

 

[melypr1985]

Precisely my point. I'm just trying to figure out who started the idea so that I can either give them the talking to, or deliver fresh flowers to their mama.

I don't think the responsible party will just raise his hand and say "yup that was me!" He'd get more than a talking to I think. I do remember when that man and his family ended up in the hospital from it though... that was awful for them.

 

[meir]

So what wld be an alternative way to kill everything on the rock and be able to use it soon after

 

[JOKER]

Melevsreef has YouTube video on that very subject.

 

[Elementalj]

Cooking rock is a saying, the only thing you do is submerge it in a bin with sea water and a pump. Cover it up and walk away for a month.

 

[bruleyii]

That happened near us. It was scary for him and his family. Thankfully everyone is ok now but he was in the hospital for a few days. Using merrick acid will kill everything on the rock but will that also release the fumes that contain the palytoxin? I've had friends do that before but I dont see the point because then you kill the good bacteria in the rock and have to start over.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So what wld be an alternative way to kill everything on the rock and be able to use it soon after

Bleach.

 

[domination2580]

So what wld be an alternative way to kill everything on the rock and be able to use it soon after

I would bleach bath it. Let it soak in bleach water for about 3 days, then soak it in just water, then start the cycling process. U could do a muriatic acid bath but it slowly eats away at the outer layer.

 

[melev]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/video-cooking-live-rock-not-curing.276079/

 

[klp]

Back in the late 60's and the 70's we boiled all coral before adding it to the tank. Most of it was bleached white so I doubt there was much on it. Boiling was out of ignorance trying be extra "knowledgeable" and "careful". We were never told it could be dangerous which it is.

 

[Wh00pS32]

Precisely my point. I'm just trying to figure out who started the idea so that I can either give them the talking to, or deliver fresh flowers to their mama.

You do realize it's not something that popped up recently?
Cooking/ boiling rock has been around salt and freshwater for at least the last 40 years.

 

[Desmond]

So what wld be an alternative way to kill everything on the rock and be able to use it soon after

As said bleach or muriatic acid wash . But be extremly careful and well protected with safety gear if you are going the muriatic acid wash route. After this you can take out and soak it in ro water for a few weeks changing water every few days. You need to check the water for reading to make sure the die off will not cause N03 and P04

 

[meir]

As said bleach or muriatic acid wash . But be extremly careful and well protected with safety gear if you are going the muriatic acid wash route. After this you can take out and soak it in ro water for a few weeks changing water every few days. You need to check the water for reading to make sure the die off will not cause N03 and P04

What wld be the problem to boil it in a metal closed pot of water? The only life on these rocks are algae and pods, my fowlr tank was infested with velvet and all but my two blennies survived, I treated with cupramine, not sure if it worked but the blennies are still alive, I can't move them to my other tank cuz I'm not too interested in infesting my reef cuz I can't treat that with copper, so I'm not too sure what do do with the rock. I want to use it in my reef but it needs to be cleaned, and I don't want a cycle in my reef. So what do I do?

 

[Desmond]

What wld be the problem to boil it in a metal closed pot of water? The only life on these rocks are algae and pods, my fowlr tank was infested with velvet and all but my two blennies survived, I treated with cupramine, not sure if it worked but the blennies are still alive, I can't move them to my other tank cuz I'm not too interested in infesting my reef cuz I can't treat that with copper, so I'm not too sure what do do with the rock. I want to use it in my reef but it needs to be cleaned, and I don't want a cycle in my reef. So what do I do?

Up to you but boiling can be dangerous in many ways. You just let the rock dry out then put it in ro for a few weeks.

 

[epstein]

Speaking from experience with cooking rock in large batches..... 3 parts water to one part muriatic acid. Use a rubber maid brute and let soak. It will strip the rock of any pests and phosphates and do a total reset. Be Smart wear gloves and do it outside. In addition be ready for any and all bubbling over. Kind of like a middle school volcano project. Rinse with water several times and youre all set. Easy peasy.
I think the reaction I described is where the boiling misnomer came from. LOL