is this an okay way to get all the dead stuff out of the rock? Its just the rock in a container with rodi water and a powerhead. I let all my rock (this picture is only 1/4 of it), soak in a bleach bath for a week and a half. The amount of
stuff that came off the rock was crazy.
Live rock :)
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TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
If you'd like, you can take this time to cure the rock and prepare it for use in your tank. Rather than having it sit in fresh water, set it up in some salt water with the same power head like you have. The rock will become live from bacteria in the air and start to break down any detritus left on the rock (there's a lot left but it is just white now, trust me!). Then when you are ready to setup your tank you can have a very short (if any) cycle since your rock will be ready to go.
The other benefit is that this tends to starve off many algae spores that are left on the rocks. They bloom to eat the phosphates coming off the rocks and then die when there isn't a new source.
The other benefit is that this tends to starve off many algae spores that are left on the rocks. They bloom to eat the phosphates coming off the rocks and then die when there isn't a new source.
ihavecrabs
2500 Club Member
I agree with @TheEngineer
If you sit in in RODI and bleach it, it will no longer be Live Rock (which I'm sure you paid a hefty premium for). I'd instead look to cycle it in a bin with saltwater and correct things as they show up (like unwanted hitchhikers or high phosphates).
If you did purchase it as live rock, it looks like it may be "boat live rock" meaning it was shipped by boat for weeks out of water... bacteria will survive that, but the other hitchhikers will not have (likely).
If you sit in in RODI and bleach it, it will no longer be Live Rock (which I'm sure you paid a hefty premium for). I'd instead look to cycle it in a bin with saltwater and correct things as they show up (like unwanted hitchhikers or high phosphates).
If you did purchase it as live rock, it looks like it may be "boat live rock" meaning it was shipped by boat for weeks out of water... bacteria will survive that, but the other hitchhikers will not have (likely).
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Mike1995
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unfortunately it was all dried out when i got it. all the rock came with a used saltwater setup I bought a few weeks ago. A few people on here said it would be a good idea to use a bleach bath first to try a rid the rock of dead organic matter because it was previously used in the setup and then sat out for months.
would using rodi water mixed with salt and the power head be okay to cure it?
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Mike1995
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alright I'll try that! Would a few big containers with powerheads and saltwater be all i need to cure the rock? How long would curing take? And your saying bacteria will grow on the rock during this process? Sorry for the stupid questions... It's my first real saltwater tank..
TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
Not stupid questions in the least bit
Yep, a few bins and powerheads are all you need! Don't worry about heaters so long as they are kept in the mid 60s to upper 70s. It should be good to go in about 6 weeks. The bacteria is present in the air and it will naturally populate the rock. Some is also likely still on the rock itself.
As for the bleaching. @melev did a great video on this a couple years ago. You can check it out here:
When you bleach the rock, apparently all you're doing is making the gunk white. It isn't actually being removed. Who knew!?
