How to wash live rock?

[CLYRIC]

I got some life rock from local LFS (it was already dried when I got it, and it wasn't one of the ones that were soaked in water 24/7) and there is a lot of debris on it that I wanted to get rid of and dusting it isn't enough. Would I need to rinse with tap water, RODI water, or salt water? Or is there another method?

 

[AydenLincoln]

You can soak it in citric acid with water or a bleach water solution and a nice scrub brush!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I put my rocks in a bucket of tap water and bleach and a powerhead for a few days, then rinse super well and soak in Rodi water a couple of days then good to go.

 

[CLYRIC]

I put my rocks in a bucket of tap water and bleach and a powerhead for a few days, then rinse super well and soak in Rodi water a couple of days then good to go.

Won't the bleach/tap water kill the beneficial bacteria on it though?

 

[CLYRIC]

You can soak it in citric acid with water or a bleach water solution and a nice scrub brush!

Does any citric acid work? like the ones you can get on amazon? Also won't the bleach and water kill the beneficial bacteria that are on the life rock or how does it work?

 

[AydenLincoln]

Does any citric acid work? like the ones you can get on amazon? Also won't the bleach and water kill the beneficial bacteria that are on the life rock or how does it work?

The life rock bacteria is dormant and a different type it’s not like live rock bacteria and is more of a marketing thing than anything. Yes even food grade would work. Simply adding a bottle of bacteria or getting seeded media will help speed the cycle and add more beneficial bacteria to the tank. Citric acid or any other type may dissolve layers so be careful I mean it is acid after all but citric acid is less harsh compared to other acids. Vinegar is also an option. I wouldn’t worry about the bacteria though because the benefits of deep cleaning the rock outweigh any negatives.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Your rock is not "live" in fact it is dead. If the LFS sold you this as live rock, don't go back there. Any beneficial bacteria is dead. what you do have is old unknown live rock filled with dry organics and possibly toxins. Paly-toxin being a possible one.
Step one: put it in a bucket with RODI, a powerhead and a bag of carbon. This will take out a lot of bad stuff.
Step two: Add a bleach solution 10%. this will break down the organics.
Step three: fresh Rodi with some sort of anti- chlorine solution rinse well and remove.
Step four : let rock air dry completely
Step five: soak in freshly made salt water add a bacteria starter let sit for 24hrs.
Now you have seeded rock

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Nothing on it is "live" if it was sitting dry on a shelf except if someone coughed on it haha...don't worry about killing anything

 

[CLYRIC]

Your rock is not "live" in fact it is dead. If the LFS sold you this as live rock, don't go back there. Any beneficial bacteria is dead. what you do have is old unknown live rock filled with dry organics and possibly toxins. Paly-toxin being a possible one.
Step one: put it in a bucket with RODI, a powerhead and a bag of carbon. This will take out a lot of bad stuff.
Step two: Add a bleach solution 10%. this will break down the organics.
Step three: fresh Rodi with some sort of anti- chlorine solution rinse well and remove.
Step four : let rock air dry completely
Step five: soak in freshly made salt water add a bacteria starter let sit for 24hrs.
Now you have seeded rock

How long do I do step 1, 2 and 3 for?

 

[CLYRIC]

The life rock bacteria is dormant and a different type it’s not like live rock bacteria and is more of a marketing thing than anything. Yes even food grade would work. Simply adding a bottle of bacteria or getting seeded media will help speed the cycle and add more beneficial bacteria to the tank. Citric acid or any other type may dissolve layers so be careful I mean it is acid after all but citric acid is less harsh compared to other acids. Vinegar is also an option. I wouldn’t worry about the bacteria though because the benefits of deep cleaning the rock outweigh any negatives.

How long would I have to soak it in the citric acid/water solution for?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

lol, there are no instructions, these are DIY tricks from individual hobbyists, passed on from hobbyist to hobbyist.

Soak em till they look clean, some say hours, some say days, some say weeks.

I bleach them till they are completely white, usually 3-4 days, then soak in rodi water for another 2-3 days. Then they go into my rock curing tank for a few months. But thats just me

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

How long do I do step 1, 2 and 3 for?

Step one and two at least a day step three you are rinsing it well by hand.
Also Citric acid may not be a good idea If your rock is a calcium based rock, ie limestone/coral.