How to process dry rock?

[legrunt]

Right, so I found some nice looking dry rock at the LFS. It has definitely been sitting out in the sun for months, maybe years. Its completely bone dry.

However, there is a lot of organic material flaking off.

Here's how I am planning to process this rock. Please critique.

1) Glue them together how I want it using epoxy and superglue.
2) Soak in garden hose water with a couple cups of bleach for about 2 days.
3) Soak in garden hose water with dechlorinator, changing water daily over the course of 2 weeks.
4) Soak in RODI water for a week
5) Place into DT


What do you guys think?

 

[blasterman]

Dude...skip the bleach. Seriously. Its toxic and theres nothing alive on the rock anyways. Why do you want it bleached? It's going to turn colors when put in a tank, so what's the point?

Put the rock in a 5gallon bucket with vinegar (mild acid,) and just soak it for a few days. Get a wire brush from the hardware store and go over the rough spots. Soak it a bit longer. Done

 

[legrunt]

Because of this.

 

[SMSREEF]

I did what you are planning but my order was this.

1.Spray off with garden hose and pressure.
2. Soak in bleach (make sure ingredient is really chlorine) and tap water for 2 days.
3. Soak in dechlorinator for 1 day, empty and repeat tap water and dechlorinator
4. Soak in vinegar and tap water for a few hours.
5. Soak in RODI for a week
6. Dry in the sun for a week
7. Finally used emarco to put the pieces together last.

 

[lakai]

I soaked mine in bleach for two weeks, took it out, let it dry. Then muriatic acid for 20 mins. Soaked them in tap water for a few days then let dry and did my aquascape using only super glue + activator.

 

[legrunt]

I had the rock soaking in bleach water for about 3 days. Then removed it and power washed it on the lawn. Then put it into a bucket of rodi with some dechlorinator. Soaked for about 2 days, then changed the water with fresh rodi without dechlorinator. Another 24 hours, tested the water today and there's no chlorine.

Basically been processing for a total of 6 days.
With the lack of chlorine in the water now, think it's safe to go into the dt?

 

[lakai]

Should be safe. Let it air dry if you want to be safe

 

[Sump Crab]

throw it out and buy some live rock lol

 

[legrunt]

Should be safe. Let it air dry if you want to be safe

Good idea. Thanks!

 

[jsvand5]

I’d do bleach and muratic acid. It’s likely loaded with Phosphate.

 

[Ef4life]

I always spray it off with high pressure, then a muratic acid bath, rinse, then bleach bath, then fresh water soak changing the water every day for a few days, finally i let it air dry a week or more.

 

[legrunt]

Regarding phosphate, wouldn't the bleach remove all the organics?

What's the reason for the muratic acid?

I don't have muratic acid. Will citric acid do?

 

[NS Mike D]

I prefer hydogen peroxide, ie oxy clean with no soap or fragrance added. It is very effective in destroying organics (preferred method of sanitizing in the medical world), but breaks down safely into H and O after a day or two.

 

[Ef4life]

Muriatic acid will actually dissolve some of the rock, it opens up the pores and etches the surface. Some pukani I dipped years ago weighed about 3/4 of what it did before dip. That stuff was super porous and awesome.

I wouldn’t put rock in citric acid, I’m not sure what it would actually do.

Regarding phosphate, wouldn't the bleach remove all the organics?

What's the reason for the muratic acid?

I don't have muratic acid. Will citric acid do?