domination2580
Reef-a-nator
I'm looking for input on cleaning rock that is now dry. It was in my tank....live and everything I want to make it clean and pest free. I want it to be new again. Any input?
Cleaning dry rock
- Thread starter domination2580
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Dreadnaught
Active Member
Acid bath is good to loosen stuff up. To make sure everything is dead cure it for 8 weeks. Cure = warm circulating salt water bath with little to no light.
mfinn
likes zoanthids
What I do when I want rock to be clean and free of pests algaes or stuff like button polyps, I do a bleach bath.
Usually one overnight soak with 2 cups of bleach per 5 gallons of freshwater ( tap water).
That will usually dissolve most organic matter and turn the rock mostly white.
Sometimes a second round is needed. But not very often.
What I do for my own peace of mind is, after the bleach bath, rinse all the rock and then do a soak in a strong dechlorinator solution, such as Prime.
If you don't want to spend the money on Prime or another product, just leave the rock out to dry for a couple days.
I also will do a muratic acid bath. 1 cup per 5 gallons of water. Follow the directions on the acid container. Use rubber gloves and eye protection and do it outside.
This is suppose to help remove phosphate that has soaked into the rock.
Usually one overnight soak with 2 cups of bleach per 5 gallons of freshwater ( tap water).
That will usually dissolve most organic matter and turn the rock mostly white.
Sometimes a second round is needed. But not very often.
What I do for my own peace of mind is, after the bleach bath, rinse all the rock and then do a soak in a strong dechlorinator solution, such as Prime.
If you don't want to spend the money on Prime or another product, just leave the rock out to dry for a couple days.
I also will do a muratic acid bath. 1 cup per 5 gallons of water. Follow the directions on the acid container. Use rubber gloves and eye protection and do it outside.
This is suppose to help remove phosphate that has soaked into the rock.
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
So my best bet is the muriatic acid.... It should kill everything off and take out the phosphates correct?
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
How much prime do you use?
mfinn
likes zoanthids
The muratic acid may not take off all the organic matter. That's why I do a bleach soak.
mfinn
likes zoanthids
After using so much bleach, I like to use 4x-5x the recommended dose.
Just to be extra safe.
But that's just me.
Jlobes
5000 Club Member
+1 to mfinn,
acid will eat away a thin layer of rock, leaving it cleaner and hopefully contaminant(phosphate) free. the bleach soak before, is used to kill off any and all organic matter.
this is the best way to treat rock that may have been previously contaminated, and is how I treated my LR after the crash and before the restart
acid will eat away a thin layer of rock, leaving it cleaner and hopefully contaminant(phosphate) free. the bleach soak before, is used to kill off any and all organic matter.
this is the best way to treat rock that may have been previously contaminated, and is how I treated my LR after the crash and before the restart
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
Acid should kill things as will
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
Would just tap water work for the acid bath?
mfinn
likes zoanthids
That's what I use.
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
Awesome going to start it today
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
If I overkill with the acid. What harm would it do?
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
Started the muriatic acid bath, then going to do a bleach bath and soak it in water for a few nights
OP
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
Would it matter which I do first?
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
That and I'm guessing I would use ro water when I use the print for the last soak
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domination2580
Reef-a-nator
What would happen if I use extra bleach?
Smite
2500 Club Member
Just did the same. Wish I would have known I could use tap water. I was under the impression that when you add muriatic acid to chlorinated water it resulted in chlorine gas.
I still have small amounts of organic matter on my rock. I'll try a bleach bath next.
Great thread.
Why do you want to use extra bleach? Got something really invasive on there?
I still have small amounts of organic matter on my rock. I'll try a bleach bath next.
Great thread.
Why do you want to use extra bleach? Got something really invasive on there?
