heathd.hd
2500 Club Member
Buying some really nice looking rock from lfs for my new build. What's the best process to ensure I'm not adding pests. Debating a bayer dip.... throw our some opinions. I'm no biologist. Lol
"Live rock" prep!
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Scribe
Active Member
Best bet unfortunately is to boil it. That's the only way to make sure nothing gets in. Then it wouldn't bet live rock though. I hope someone can chime in with something helpful. It's almost impossible to make sure nothing gets in and keep it live in my opinion. If you can put it in a tank without anything else for a while, you might be lucky enough to spot some of the pests and remove, but in my opinion live rock really is a crap shoot.
just a quick statement, never boil live rock! It can release toxins and be very harmful. In answer to the op, what about doing a hypersalinity (I hope that is the correct term) dip - make up a batch of water with very high salinity and dip the rock, most likely some unwanted critters may come out of the rock under these conditions. The other obvious answer is to visually inspect the rock very closely before putting it in.
You can oversalianate a bucket of water, and it will make the critters jump ship. But as for unwanted Aiptasia or other things, your better off getting Dry Rock or Acid Washing the rock to kill everything.
vic67
Well-Known Member
An acid dip would ensure that there would be no unwanted hitchhikers but it would destroy the coralline. The hyper salinity soak is the other option. With your water parameters in line coralline should start forming in no time. GL
Bry
Well-Known Member
Personally I wouldn't start a tank without Live Rock. I have had more hitchhikers from frags and corals that I've bought than from Live Rock. I think it depends on where your live rock is from.. IE caribbean vs Fiji...etc. It really is your own personal thoughts. One thing is certain... DO NOT WASTE THE MONEY on Live Rock to kill it through acid or boiling. Use dry rock from several of the great vendors if that is your choice. Hypersalinity will work for a few pests but not all and will kill some good but not all.
Pests are manageable with effort.. Dead rock works with a little extra time. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Pests are manageable with effort.. Dead rock works with a little extra time. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Scribe
Active Member
Sorry I by no means meant to actually boil it. I simply meant something extreme like that is one of the only ways to make sure nothing is on it, but like other mentions, it could release toxins, and would be a waster of money. Sorry if there was any confusion.
I'm glad you clarified that scribe 
people have actually boiled their live rock and gotten very ill from the fumes. Hope I didn't sound harsh but there are a lot of newcomers in the forums and may not know the dangers.
I am a fan of real live rock. I know there are risks with unwanted pests and such but the diversity of life it offers is a huge part of what drew me to this hobby. I began my first tank about 17 years ago with uncured marshall island rock. Other than the incredible stench (don't think I'd do uncured again), it was fascinating to watch all of the life emerge over time. I know there can be some bad - but you can't beat the variety of critters you will get with the real live rock. I also happen to be a critter fan. I have added a few pieces of live rock over the years to add some biological diversity, and I guess I've been lucky because I really have not dealt with too many bad hitchhikers.....I had a couple majano on one piece about a year ago. I've gotten more unwanted critters on rock I've purchased with coral or on frags.
people have actually boiled their live rock and gotten very ill from the fumes. Hope I didn't sound harsh but there are a lot of newcomers in the forums and may not know the dangers.I am a fan of real live rock. I know there are risks with unwanted pests and such but the diversity of life it offers is a huge part of what drew me to this hobby. I began my first tank about 17 years ago with uncured marshall island rock. Other than the incredible stench (don't think I'd do uncured again), it was fascinating to watch all of the life emerge over time. I know there can be some bad - but you can't beat the variety of critters you will get with the real live rock. I also happen to be a critter fan. I have added a few pieces of live rock over the years to add some biological diversity, and I guess I've been lucky because I really have not dealt with too many bad hitchhikers.....I had a couple majano on one piece about a year ago. I've gotten more unwanted critters on rock I've purchased with coral or on frags.
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I've thrown my rock in buckets of boiling water several times myself without issues, just do it outside and don't stick your head in there to take a wiff.
I guess I always think of boiling something as putting it in boiling water on a stove usually done indoors your idea would work reefing.
your idea would work reefing.
Bry
Well-Known Member
I'm glad you clarified that scribe
I am a fan of real live rock. I know there are risks with unwanted pests and such but the diversity of life it offers is a huge part of what drew me to this hobby. I began my first tank about 17 years ago with uncured marshall island rock. Other than the incredible stench (don't think I'd do uncured again), it was fascinating to watch all of the life emerge over time. I know there can be some bad - but you can't beat the variety of critters you will get with the real live rock. I also happen to be a critter fan. I have added a few pieces of live rock over the years to add some biological diversity, and I guess I've been lucky because I really have not dealt with too many bad hitchhikers.....I had a couple majano on one piece about a year ago. I've gotten more unwanted critters on rock I've purchased with coral or on frags.
Agree Completely!
OP
OP
heathd.hd
2500 Club Member
Since we're here and on the rock topic. I bleached my old tank rock for 2 days than fw with alot of water changes for 12 hrs than its been drying for 3 days. Anyone think my apistasia will still live through that?
OP
OP
heathd.hd
2500 Club Member
I'm glad you clarified that scribe
I am a fan of real live rock. I know there are risks with unwanted pests and such but the diversity of life it offers is a huge part of what drew me to this hobby. I began my first tank about 17 years ago with uncured marshall island rock. Other than the incredible stench (don't think I'd do uncured again), it was fascinating to watch all of the life emerge over time. I know there can be some bad - but you can't beat the variety of critters you will get with the real live rock. I also happen to be a critter fan. I have added a few pieces of live rock over the years to add some biological diversity, and I guess I've been lucky because I really have not dealt with too many bad hitchhikers.....I had a couple majano on one piece about a year ago. I've gotten more unwanted critters on rock I've purchased with coral or on frags.
Good response!
