I think I have messed up. Grateful for advice.

[Peaceboogy]

Hi,
I am in the process of setting up a couple of reef tanks for my daughter and myself... A friend gave me 60# of assorted liverock from a tank that was broken down. I decided to do a Bleach cure following directions on BRS. I did the initial cure in about 10 gallons of well water (in hind sight I should have used RO/DI) mixed with 1 gallon bleach. After one week I set the rock out to sun dry. The problem is that I noticed a sulfur smell from the well water when I was washing my car. I just never even thought about that before I used that water for the cure. I am worried that I have ruined the rock.... Should I be concerned? Still am planning to rinse, soak and dechlorinate in 5 stage RO/DI water...
Thank you so much for any advice.
Kindly

 

[Dan_P]

Hi,
I am in the process of setting up a couple of reef tanks for my daughter and myself... A friend gave me 60# of assorted liverock from a tank that was broken down. I decided to do a Bleach cure following directions on BRS. I did the initial cure in about 10 gallons of well water (in hind sight I should have used RO/DI) mixed with 1 gallon bleach. After one week I set the rock out to sun dry. The problem is that I noticed a sulfur smell from the well water when I was washing my car. I just never even thought about that before I used that water for the cure. I am worried that I have ruined the rock.... Should I be concerned? Still am planning to rinse, soak and dechlorinate in 5 stage RO/DI water...
Thank you so much for any advice.
Kindly

So you can sleep at night, acid wash the rocks to dissolve the surface and remove whatever is bound to it. Dilute muriatic acid would be quick. A safer but slower approach would be to use acetic acid (vinegar) or citric acid.

 

[Mike J]

Amigo,

Clean them until you'd put them long term in your own body.

That idea will become a North Star for long term success. Promise

 

[Peaceboogy]

Amigo,

Clean them until you'd put them long term in your own body.

That idea will become a North Star for long term success. Promise

lol with my levels of anxiety might never happen. The question really is has the sulfur leached into the rock and can’t be removed? Or is that paranoia

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Did you put a powerhead in the bleach water? If not, then the crud inside the rock might not be properly cleaned through, and maybe thats the smell?

 

[Peaceboogy]

So you can sleep at night, acid wash the rocks to dissolve the surface and remove whatever is bound to it. Dilute muriatic acid would be quick. A safer but slower approach would be to use acetic acid (vinegar) or citric acid.

Unfortunately using acid is going to be beyond my comfort level. I will explore civic acid and vinegar. Thanks

 

[Peaceboogy]

Did you put a powerhead in the bleach water? If not, then the crud inside the rock might not be properly cleaned through, and maybe thats the smell?

I did not put a power head but shook vigorously twice daily. The issue is that the water I used had a sulfur smell before I used it (I just didn't notice). So the concern is that the sulfur may still be lingering in/on the rock surface. If I redo the bleach cure using ro/di water and a power head will that resolve any issue with any lingering sulfur from the original cure?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I did not put a power head but shook vigorously twice daily. The issue is that the water I used had a sulfur smell before I used it (I just didn't notice). So the concern is that the sulfur may still be lingering in/on the rock surface. If I redo the bleach cure using ro/di water and a power head will that resolve any issue with any lingering sulfur from the original cure?

You really need flow to push water through all the tiny holes and tunnels in the rock, it will be full of dead stuff from the previous tank. I'm sure thats where the smell is from. Bleach it again with a powerhead and you shouldn't smell anything afterwards, good luck

 

[Duane family]

You will be just fine if you let the rock soak in RO water for 5 days then wash it off properly. What you did was exactly how I bleach cure rock except that I use RO water.

A tip I can offer with bleach cured rock if you don't mind the extra time is to put the rock in a drum with salt water, 1025 salinity can be done with table salt if you want. Just cover the rock, no more. Then add 10ml per gallon of Fritz Turbo Start 900 and the smallest power head pump you have (1000 Ltr/hr is best) Leave that for 2 weeks. If you have cold climate add a heater. This will seed the rock well, 10 x what will occur in the same period in your tank.

 

[Peaceboogy]

You will be just fine if you let the rock soak in RO water for 5 days then wash it off properly. What you did was exactly how I bleach cure rock except that I use RO water.

A tip I can offer with bleach cured rock if you don't mind the extra time is to put the rock in a drum with salt water, 1025 salinity can be done with table salt if you want. Just cover the rock, no more. Then add 10ml per gallon of Fritz Turbo Start 900 and the smallest power head pump you have (1000 Ltr/hr is best) Leave that for 2 weeks. If you have cold climate add a heater. This will seed the rock well, 10 x what will occur in the same period in your tank.

Thank you! I will follow this exactly. One question. Half the rock will not be able to be put in an aquarium for 2 weeks. Will it be ok for those two weeks out of water after being seeded?

 

[Duane family]

Thank you! I will follow this exactly. One question. Half the rock will not be able to be put in an aquarium for 2 weeks. Will it be ok for those two weeks out of water after being seeded?

Nope if you leave it out of water after seeding then it's not going to work. Best is just leave it in the tub with the bacteria until you need to use it. But don't let it dry out again.

 

[codycolina707]

Hi,
I am in the process of setting up a couple of reef tanks for my daughter and myself... A friend gave me 60# of assorted liverock from a tank that was broken down. I decided to do a Bleach cure following directions on BRS. I did the initial cure in about 10 gallons of well water (in hind sight I should have used RO/DI) mixed with 1 gallon bleach. After one week I set the rock out to sun dry. The problem is that I noticed a sulfur smell from the well water when I was washing my car. I just never even thought about that before I used that water for the cure. I am worried that I have ruined the rock.... Should I be concerned? Still am planning to rinse, soak and dechlorinate in 5 stage RO/DI water...
Thank you so much for any advice.
Kindly

Am I missing something why get live rock to kill it why not just buy some dry rock

 

[Tamberav]

Hi,
I am in the process of setting up a couple of reef tanks for my daughter and myself... A friend gave me 60# of assorted liverock from a tank that was broken down. I decided to do a Bleach cure following directions on BRS. I did the initial cure in about 10 gallons of well water (in hind sight I should have used RO/DI) mixed with 1 gallon bleach. After one week I set the rock out to sun dry. The problem is that I noticed a sulfur smell from the well water when I was washing my car. I just never even thought about that before I used that water for the cure. I am worried that I have ruined the rock.... Should I be concerned? Still am planning to rinse, soak and dechlorinate in 5 stage RO/DI water...
Thank you so much for any advice.
Kindly

It will be fine, it's probably from hydrogen sulfide gas. I wouldn't be worried about it.

Just proceed per usual and cycle it well before adding life.

 

[Duane family]

Am I missing something why get live rock to kill it why not just buy some dry rock

There are a few different scenarios why but the two most common would be to eliminate any inhabitants of the rock which would not be wanted in a new tank. Perhaps the rock had already died off and you now want to strip the dead matter from the rock

Even dry rock should be cured for the 2nd reason detailed above.

 

[Peaceboogy]

Am I missing something why get live rock to kill it why not just buy some dry rock

It was given to me and was already dried and unused for over a year.

 

[Dburr1014]

I realize I'm late to the party.

You did just fine with tap water and bleach. Don't beat yourself up.
After days in the sun, your rock is just fine. Natural uv kills everything and the bleach is gone.

But, I'm totally baffled why someone would use table salt to cure rock. Just use reef salts. It's not the same type of salt.
His luck on your reefing journey.