How come bleach curing dry rock is considered safe?

[cpark645]

Just curious, it seems like it's become accepted within the community that bleaching dry rock is safe, and that bleach will evaporate if left out in the sun. However, I did a quick search on google and found that NaClO will not evaporate.

I'm assuming the NaClO reacts breaks down and starts forming other compounds, so by the time the bleach curing is finished there might not be much if any NaClO left. I was hoping someone could explain in more detail how this process works.

 

[Paul B]

It is safe and I have done it dozens of times. When this hobby started we all used dead coral skeletons for decoration because there was no live coral for sale. Every week or so we removed all that coral and soaked it in bleach or even acid to get it nice and white as it would turn green with algae. My tank is still running and that bleached coral is still in there supporting my rocks. Forget what you read about NaCIO forming things like Vodka and all sorts of silly things.
This was my tank in about 1972. Those dead corals were all bleached many times.

 

[marinesnow]

Bleach can be neutralized with prime or sodium thiosulfate and then rinsed.

4 NaClO + Na2S2O3 + 2 NaOH → 4 NaCl + 2 Na2SO4 + H2O

Bleach + Sodium Thiosulfate = Table Salt + Sodium Sulfate + Water (sodium sulfate is used in artificial sea salt mixes)

And I’m pretty sure bleach (chlorine) does evaporate, and the sun accelerates this process.

I personally use both methods. First prime, then rinse in rodi, then out in the sun to dry. I’ve observed zero tank issues with this process. The rock comes out white, clean, and smell free.

 

[cpark645]

Yeah, it seems like many have used bleach with success, I just wanted to know on a more scientific, technical level why/how it was OK. Thanks for the responses!