Cure or acid bath?

[Trever]

I bought some used Pukani on Craigslist. It's been out of water for at least 2 months. The previous owner clearly had an algae problem since some of the rock has some faded green (was darker green when first bought but has dried out a lot more in my basement).

LFS is offering to put the pukani in an acid bath and then bleach it for free, because they are about to do a batch. LFS guy also looked at the pukani rock I bought and said it looked very good and clean, theoretically I could just power wash and cure it in water (was about to do that- the reason it was in my trunk at the LFS), though he still suggested that they nuke it with the acid/bleach.

I have seen reputable people claim killing everything via acid/bleach is the opposite of what you want to do. Instead, cure it the old fashioned (takes time) way.

I have seen reputable people (including the guys at the LFS, which is one of the good ones) claim it's best to be safe and nuke the rock, then add the liquid bacteria during cycling.

I see people saying they only want wet live rock because they have nothing but problems otherwise. I see people say they would never use wet live rock because they have nothing but pest problems otherwise.

What do the good and reputable people of reef2reef think?

I never knew rock could be so confusing.

I want to do the best thing from the standpoint of starting right biologically. I wouldn't mind losing some rock mass to the acid and the clean white look (for however long that will last...), but that is secondary to avoiding biological problems.

Thanks

 

[Doctorgori]

If algae spores laying dormant is your concern; lay the rock out in the hot sun and take your chances ...I’d wash it off to remove dirt, but TBH algae wouldn’t be my 1st worry

As far as whats rock is best: people say all sorts of stuff, esp when money or reputation is involved...
Dry rock is cool, but a lot of it is waaaay to dense. There is some “base rock” going around that is indeed from the ocean, but like the from the “PreCambrian” Era ....
Yes wet rock can carry pest, but IMO what we are led to believe is “Coral Displays” with low biodiversity are the way to go...if thats your thing: cool
I like all the lil critters and personally take my chances

 

[35ppt]

Redacted

 

[lakai]

Do both.

 

[35ppt]

Redacted

 

[MrsBugmaster]

Since you don't know what kind of condition the tank and rock was in I would do this:

bleach first and let it soak overnight, then rinse very well with tap water, then muriatic acid 10:1 ratio of water to acid (add water first, then acid) do this outside (not in the grass)and wear gloves and goggles. I leave it in for 30 mins to an hour. Then pour in regular baking soda to neutralize the acid. Then rinse very well and soak rock in ro/di for two or 3 days with daily water changes. Then test water for phosphates. If phosphates are high I use Lanthanum chloride to reduce phosphates. Don't want to start a new tank with rock already leaching phosphates.

Then you can put rock either in tank with bottled bacteria and leave it in brute or other container to become live again.

Here is a video on acid washing rock

 

[4TheLoveOfReefs85]

I bought some used Pukani on Craigslist. It's been out of water for at least 2 months. The previous owner clearly had an algae problem since some of the rock has some faded green (was darker green when first bought but has dried out a lot more in my basement).

LFS is offering to put the pukani in an acid bath and then bleach it for free, because they are about to do a batch. LFS guy also looked at the pukani rock I bought and said it looked very good and clean, theoretically I could just power wash and cure it in water (was about to do that- the reason it was in my trunk at the LFS), though he still suggested that they nuke it with the acid/bleach.

I have seen reputable people claim killing everything via acid/bleach is the opposite of what you want to do. Instead, cure it the old fashioned (takes time) way.

I have seen reputable people (including the guys at the LFS, which is one of the good ones) claim it's best to be safe and nuke the rock, then add the liquid bacteria during cycling.

I see people saying they only want wet live rock because they have nothing but problems otherwise. I see people say they would never use wet live rock because they have nothing but pest problems otherwise.

What do the good and reputable people of reef2reef think?

I never knew rock could be so confusing.

I want to do the best thing from the standpoint of starting right biologically. I wouldn't mind losing some rock mass to the acid and the clean white look (for however long that will last...), but that is secondary to avoiding biological problems.

Thanks

I don't want to be the bad guy here, but I stand behind the old bucket of water, pump, bubble stone and darkness, for a few weeks, watch the final bit of phosphates leave the water, and be sure to shake shake shake when switching out the water each week. I know it is such a timely process, but you save so much life within them.

 

[4TheLoveOfReefs85]

Acid baths are horrible you lose so much that is within the live rock, everything that is dormant.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

I don't want to be the bad guy here, but I stand behind the old bucket of water, pump, bubble stone and darkness, for a few weeks, watch the final bit of phosphates leave the water, and be sure to shake shake shake when switching out the water each week. I know it is such a timely process, but you save so much life within them.

The rock is already dry rock. If it was still wet this may be the way to go though.