Dry rock simple question

[specialk]

So been at this hobby a long time, just never really dealt with or read/researched this topic believe it or not.

So I had some dry rock that was sitting outside in the sun for long time. I am about to give it a bleach bath and go thru that entire process (soak in bleach for week, put in regular water, dechloranize, then let sit outside again to have all the bleach break down and off it, etc.)

Essentially after this process is done, is it good to put into an established reef tank? Or does this still need to be cured in saltwater?

 

[hijinks7]

I would still cure it in salt water to make sure any dead organics are really off. You don't want to cause an ammonia spike or slowly leach out phosphates and have an algae issue.

 

[madweazl]

How much are you adding? I tossed about 10lbs into my existing tank with no curing/bleaching/rinsing (or anything else) and had no measurable or observable reactions.

 

[specialk]

How much are you adding? I tossed about 10lbs into my existing tank with no curing/bleaching/rinsing (or anything else) and had no measurable or observable reactions.

I have a 145 gallon system.

I am adding probobly about 20 pounds ... I removed around 20 pounds, so just trying to replace it with new clean rock. It has been curing in a tub mixing with saltwater, pump and heater as well as low led light .. but tested the po4 and n03 and po4 was 0.61 and no3 was like off the charts. I also did not bleach the rock before .. it was previously outside in the sun for like 4 months ... decided I wanted to use it so just brought it in, threw it in the tub with some saltwater and its been in there for 4 weeks now.

 

[madweazl]

Mine was sitting in the garage; I didnt even get it wet LOL (I did remove a couple cobwebs though).

 

[rkpetersen]

If you want to make sure you get ALL the organic stuff off those rocks, soak them in dilute muriatic acid for an hour or two. Thick brown oxidized foam on top of the water.

I think the bigger issue than whether or not your rocks are cycled will be, how much phosphate will they add to your water? Some dry rocks have a lot of phosphate. Could conceivably cause problems for sensitive acros, nuisance algae outbreak, etc. Probably the easiest way to avoid this is to do a dilute lanthanum chloride soak for a couple of days, which will precipitate any loosely held surface phosphates off the rocks. (Or you can just run a ton of GFO if needed after you add the rocks, I suppose, but that seems riskier to me.)

If the rocks are clean, and your DT already has a strong functioning biofilter, then bacterial cycling of the new rocks is not necessary imo.

 

[specialk]

If you want to make sure you get ALL the organic stuff off those rocks, soak them in dilute muriatic acid for an hour or two. Thick brown oxidized foam on top of the water.

I think the bigger issue than whether or not your rocks are cycled will be, how much phosphate will they add to your water? Some dry rocks have a lot of phosphate. Could conceivably cause problems for sensitive acros, nuisance algae outbreak, etc. Probably the easiest way to avoid this is to do a dilute lanthanum chloride soak for a couple of days, which will precipitate any loosely held surface phosphates off the rocks. (Or you can just run a ton of GFO if needed after you add the rocks, I suppose, but that seems riskier to me.)

If the rocks are clean, and your DT already has a strong functioning biofilter, then bacterial cycling of the new rocks is not necessary imo.

Yah I was looking into that ...

What are your thoughts on a bleach bath for a week? I was watching something on BRS TV where they tested the p04 after acid bath, bleach, and "natural" curing. The bleach bath took the most p04 off of the rocks.

IF I did that, would I then be able to add the rocks right into the tank, seeing as they SHOULD not leak any p04 into the tank since the po4 has been cleaned away?

I thought the rocks would be good right now the way I am doing it, but the water I tested is sky high for p04 so I am nervous about putting it into my tank

 

[specialk]

My main concern is just messing up my system, that I worked and work so hard to get everything in check and stable. I hate to fight that fight again to get it all back to where it should be.

 

[hijinks7]

did you do a 100% water change and then test?

If not do a 100% water change wait a few days and then test.

 

[specialk]

Mine was sitting in the garage; I didnt even get it wet LOL (I did remove a couple cobwebs though).

I was thinking of maybe putting one rock into the sump, testing and seeing how it effects #'s. Just go slow with it. I can always remove it out of the sump if need be. Not sure if that is a good approach.

 

[don_chuwish]

What I've posted before on this topic:
"Bleach, vinegar, either/or/both all good. (I just don't think muriatic acid is worth the trouble.)
I basically do it by feel, but typically is 24 hrs in vinegar:water, maybe 1:5 or so, with a powerhead for movement. Blast the rocks clean with a hose and inspect, pull off, scrub off anything. If any look like they need more, do another 24 hrs. Hose off again and inspect. Then you can start on curing, first with RO, then heated salt water, doing water changes and testing for nitrate/phosphate."
If you use bleach then just add some Prime to your rinse water. Replace the water and repeat if it feels necessary. But yes, cure it in the dark before putting it in the tank.

 

[specialk]

did you do a 100% water change and then test?

If not do a 100% water change wait a few days and then test.

Yah I did. Changed the water weds (actually threw some chaeto in there just because I had nowhere else to put it) and then tested today.

 

[specialk]

What I've posted before on this topic:
"Bleach, vinegar, either/or/both all good. (I just don't think muriatic acid is worth the trouble.)
I basically do it by feel, but typically is 24 hrs in vinegar:water, maybe 1:5 or so, with a powerhead for movement. Blast the rocks clean with a hose and inspect, pull off, scrub off anything. If any look like they need more, do another 24 hrs. Hose off again and inspect. Then you can start on curing, first with RO, then heated salt water, doing water changes and testing for nitrate/phosphate."
If you use bleach then just add some Prime to your rinse water. Replace the water and repeat if it feels necessary. But yes, cure it in the dark before putting it in the tank.

So question I am afraid of getting the answer too is as follows:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So essentially everything I have done for the last 4 weeks, having it "cure" in the bucket with twice a week water changes, has all been for nothing? I need to start over?

Are these high #s for p04 and no3 I am getting right now .. is this due to the fact that I did NOT give them a bleach bath before I put them in this bucket to start the curing process?

I was hoping I could just wait this out more and wait for all this nasty stuff to leach out and cylce .. seeing as how Ialready have 4 weeks into this. I hate the thought of having to start over. I really want to get this tank back to looking like it used to ...and the thought of 4 weeks wasted is well ... [ insert a host of words ]

 

[DeniseAndy]

I would say if you already have done a bleach and soaked in the bath for a while, you can add some to your sump. I have taken dry rock that was stored in my fish room, rinsed in sink and thrown in my sump to cure. It is a great place to get the rock live and use in other tanks or switch my main scape. With 20lbs in a 145g, I would do maybe 5lbs at a time and add over the course of a week or maybe two. If you have a fully established system, should not be an issue at all.

 

[specialk]

I would say if you already have done a bleach and soaked in the bath for a while, you can add some to your sump. I have taken dry rock that was stored in my fish room, rinsed in sink and thrown in my sump to cure. It is a great place to get the rock live and use in other tanks or switch my main scape. With 20lbs in a 145g, I would do maybe 5lbs at a time and add over the course of a week or maybe two. If you have a fully established system, should not be an issue at all.

Yah I have a fully established tank. But the problem is with this dry rock that has been currently soaking for 4 weeks, I did NOT give the rock a bleach bath before I soaked them.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I would not worry as the sump and the mature system should take care of settling the rock if done slowly (as to not overload the current system). I have never bleached my rock. I have done the acid bath and the soak and cure. Maybe once used bleach. Cannot remember. I have been throwing rocks in my sump so long I cannot remember the last time I had to clean them.

 

[specialk]

I would not worry as the sump and the mature system should take care of settling the rock if done slowly (as to not overload the current system). I have never bleached my rock. I have done the acid bath and the soak and cure. Maybe once used bleach. Cannot remember. I have been throwing rocks in my sump so long I cannot remember the last time I had to clean them.

Yah this was something I was thinking of doing .. simply throwing a small amount in the sump and then just staying on top of the testing to see if I am getting any major swings in parameters. If so, I take the rock out. But I am hoping for the best seeing as it has been in fresh saltwater for 4 weeks now.

 

[HB AL]

All I've ever done in 30+ years when I add some dry rock to my tanks is hose it down with a garden hose, then stick it in the tank and or the sump. Sometimes it's just one rock other times maybe 10 or so anywhere from 3 to 20#s, have never experienced any adverse affects and within a few months you couldn't even tell the difference from the rocks already in the tank.

 

[madweazl]

All I've ever done in 30+ years when I add some dry rock to my tanks is hose it down with a garden hose, then stick it in the tank and or the sump. Sometimes it's just one rock other times maybe 10 or so anywhere from 3 to 20#s, have never experienced any adverse affects and within a few months you couldn't even tell the difference from the rocks already in the tank.

Yup

2 Jan

28 Mar

 

[specialk]

All I've ever done in 30+ years when I add some dry rock to my tanks is hose it down with a garden hose, then stick it in the tank and or the sump. Sometimes it's just one rock other times maybe 10 or so anywhere from 3 to 20#s, have never experienced any adverse affects and within a few months you couldn't even tell the difference from the rocks already in the tank.

Perfect.

I am due for a water change today, and after I get done with that I am going to throw a few small pieces into my sump. Again they have already been submerged in saltwater for 4 weeks now ...

Looking forward to this being an easy and stress free deal!