Curing dry rock???

[Mele__Reef]

hey guys,

I have about 8 lbs of what was live rock that was given to me but let it dry outside in the sun because it had lots of bristle worms. I also couldn't make use of it due to limited space in my tank. Anyhow, my question is the rock has been sitting in the sun for about 4 weeks now and it turned into a beige color a lot of the critters are dried up on the rock. How can I make this rock suitable and nice and white for the tank I will be upgrading to. I heard that some people use bleach, but not quite sure that is safe. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Aaron

 

[Diesel]

Soak it in water with some vinegar and a strong pump to have all stuff you don't want coming off.
Do this for a week or so and rinse it good with the power of your garden hose after that it's ready to be put in your tank in order to start up a cycle.
You can use the shrimp method or the Dr Tims one and only, other use a clean piece of live rock, what ever you do get a good test kit, redsea or salifert to test for ammonia and nitrite.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I would potential do this a little differently. First off, how large is your tank. I ask this because some times, it your tank is very large, and the amount of rock is not much compared to what's in the tank already, you can immediately put the rock directly into the tank to cure and cycle.

If however, this is not the case, I would cure the rock in a separate container/tank/Tuperware tub/etc. First I would soak in bleach to make it look pretty and white and oxidize some of the former dead stuff out. Then rinse with plenty of water and maybe even let it soak in water to rinse out as much bleach. Now let it dry and remain dry for a number of days if not weeks....so there is no bleach smell....none! You could accelerate this step by using a chlorine neutralizer (sodium thiosulfate as an example).

Now to cure the rock, place it in saltwater with a power head and heater and let it sit for maybe a month to a month and a half to two months. On occasion check for high nitrates and phosphates....these aren't from cycling, these are from the dead stuff in the rock degrading and leaching out. So water changes might (actually will) be necessary. When nitrates and phosphates have stopped leaching, your rock is cured....and if it's been long enough, cycled as well. Now you're ready to put it in your tank.

That's my two cents.