Dead rock
- Thread starter jorge0912
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squampton
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I do this when I am going to use previously live rock that is now dead.
Soak in a bleach solutuon 24 hours.
Rinse and soak 24 hours in freshwater with prime added.
Let air dry for a few days.
Soak in a bleach solutuon 24 hours.
Rinse and soak 24 hours in freshwater with prime added.
Let air dry for a few days.
Ron Reefman
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The issue is, does the now dead, dry rock have any of the old biology that was once alive on it, still on it but now dead. If it does, and you put it in your tank, the dead stuff could/will start to rot and could add ammonia, phosphate or other pollutants to your water.
I'd suggest soaking it for a day in ordinary water (you can add bleach if you wish). Then use a good scrub brush and try brushing the rock clean. Then give it another day in new clean water (doesn't need to be RO/DI or salt). Rinse it off. Now make up some new saltwater and test for ammonia, nitrate and phosphate and write down the levels. Then add the old rock and let it set for 24 hours. Test the water again. If you get some ammonia, there is still dead and rotting 'stuff' on the rock. A small amount is OK, but a high ammonia level or phosphate level means you need to do more soaking and cleaning. Over time (3 to 7 days) the ammonia will be turned into nitrate which is good.
I'd suggest soaking it for a day in ordinary water (you can add bleach if you wish). Then use a good scrub brush and try brushing the rock clean. Then give it another day in new clean water (doesn't need to be RO/DI or salt). Rinse it off. Now make up some new saltwater and test for ammonia, nitrate and phosphate and write down the levels. Then add the old rock and let it set for 24 hours. Test the water again. If you get some ammonia, there is still dead and rotting 'stuff' on the rock. A small amount is OK, but a high ammonia level or phosphate level means you need to do more soaking and cleaning. Over time (3 to 7 days) the ammonia will be turned into nitrate which is good.
jorge0912
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Can I put in a 5 gallon bucket with bleach with tap water on it ?
And what kind of bleach do I add and then can I rinse with tap water after that to clean of bleach with some prime then add some to water at the end just to make sure is clean ? And how much bleach ?
And what kind of bleach do I add and then can I rinse with tap water after that to clean of bleach with some prime then add some to water at the end just to make sure is clean ? And how much bleach ?
Geebs19
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+1 on this!
Ron Reefman
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jorge, any bucket will work. Add as much bleach as you want. I'd say 1 or 2 cups in a 5g bucket with rocks is enough. Any bleach (chlorine bleach) is fine. Using tap water is perfectly OK. After the soak any water rinse is OK. Understand that chlorine bleach evaporates fairly quickly from water. So I see no need to use any additive like Prime unless you already have it sitting around.
After the final rinse the rocks could go in the saltwater tank. The tiny amount of tap water that is on the rocks isn't enough to cause any issues in the tank... especially if the tank has been up and running (cycled) already.
After the final rinse the rocks could go in the saltwater tank. The tiny amount of tap water that is on the rocks isn't enough to cause any issues in the tank... especially if the tank has been up and running (cycled) already.
for my freshwater tanks
