Mold on (dry) live rock ?

[Solga]

Ok, so I dug out a whole bunch of dry live rock, to get it ready for cycling. I am going to be replacing my floors, so I am just going to cycle the rock in brute bins on the enclosed back porch. When I started going through these rock, that have been in storage for probably 7 years, I noticed that a bunch of them have a black mold that is growing on them.

My question is, how should I go about handling this ? Just throw them in the saltwater and "let er rip" or should I attempt to 'clean' them before I start to cycle em ? Any other ideas ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok, so I dug out a whole bunch of dry live rock, to get it ready for cycling. I am going to be replacing my floors, so I am just going to cycle the rock in brute bins on the enclosed back porch. When I started going through these rock, that have been in storage for probably 7 years, I noticed that a bunch of them have a black mold that is growing on them.

My question is, how should I go about handling this ? Just throw them in the saltwater and "let er rip" or should I attempt to 'clean' them before I start to cycle em ? Any other ideas ?

May be black sponge
Any pics under white lighting?

 

[GARRIGA]

Muriatic acid?

 

[Solga]

May be black sponge
Any pics under white lighting?

I will get some pics shortly. I wouldn't think it would be black sponge, as it wasn't there when I put it in storage, years ago. But who knows.... Gimme a few, and I'll post up some pics.

 

[Solga]

Muriatic acid?

I could always go get some muriatic acid, I suppose. But would it really be necessary ? I will post some pictures here shortly.

 

[GARRIGA]

I could always go get some muriatic acid, I suppose. But would it really be necessary ? I will post some pictures here shortly.

Why risk it. You breathing that might not be good. Same with the acid. Might wavy to get an apparatus when working around either or take it outside and get up wind from it.

Black anything from a dark moist environment could very well be mold but without testing it’s just an assumption. Still safer to assume it is and deal with it as such.

Could try leaving it in the sun a few days. Flip it over and leave a few more days. I’d just pour acid on it and be done with it.

 

[Solga]

Here are a few pictures of what I am talking about. This rock hasn't been 'wet' for several years, and the only think I can think of, was humidity from being in storage caused it. Unless this happened from putting the rock away somewhat wet when I last tore down that system.

 

[Solga]

Why risk it. You breathing that might not be good. Same with the acid. Might wavy to get an apparatus when working around either or take it outside and get up wind from it.

Black anything from a dark moist environment could very well be mold but without testing it’s just an assumption. Still safer to assume it is and deal with it as such.

Could try leaving it in the sun a few days. Flip it over and leave a few more days. I’d just pour acid on it and be done with it.

Definitely makes sense. I have some running to do later on today, so it looks like starting this cycle will just have to wait.
Thanks for the insight !

 

[aSaltyKlown]

A bleach bath would also work, no need for the acid unless you are wanting to take layers of rock off.

 

[Solga]

No need to take off layers, or solve any rock for that matter. All I need to do is neutralize whatever it is, that is on the rock now. It will probably be cycling for another couple months after I get it all cleaned.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I could always go get some muriatic acid, I suppose. But would it really be necessary ? I will post some pictures here shortly.

That or bleach/water mix will also work

 

[FIN&BONEZ]

If you have a big enough pot just boil them. The tumble from the boiling water will also help dislodge unwanted sediment from holes ect. Could be a little messy but its chemical free.

 

[Solga]

I have done the bleach/water method before, and to be completely honest I am not sure on all of the handling/disposal procedures for the acid, so I will probably stick with the bleaching.

Thank you, to all that took the time and responded !!

 

[Solga]

If you have a big enough pot just boil them. The tumble from the boiling water will also help dislodge unwanted sediment from holes ect. Could be a little messy but its chemical free.

That is something I have never thought of ! Unfortunately, I do not have anything big enough to boil about 100 pounds of rock. Not to mention, I am almost positive that the wife would not be too happy if I used her good cookware on the rock.

 

[FIN&BONEZ]

Well Im the cook here so no complaints from the mrs. It was along time ago and I did it outside. It did work though.

 

[Tamberav]

Pretty sure cycling it in saltwater will kill the mold all the same.

Don't overthink it.

 

[Projects with Sam]

I finished bleaching my rocks for a week in late November and have found no problems thus far with it. Really glad I did given all the stories I hear of ammonia bombs going off from live rock die-off. Plus its nice knowing there are no mystery pests waiting for an opportune moment.

 

[Solga]

Well Im the cook here so no complaints from the mrs. It was along time ago and I did it outside. It did work though.

I do the grilling , smoking and the baking, but my wife is still the queen of the kitchen. Lol. I wouldn't mind having a big ol stock pot for over the fire pit though...

Pretty sure cycling it in saltwater will kill the mold all the same.

Don't overthink it.

This is exactly what I was thinking when I typed the original post, but I wanted to get other people's thoughts, without trying to sound like I was looking for a specific answer.

I finished bleaching my rocks for a week in late November and have found no problems thus far with it. Really glad I did given all the stories I hear of ammonia bombs going off from live rock die-off. Plus its nice knowing there are no mystery pests waiting for an opportune moment.

I have a couple hundred pounds of rock, and about half of it I gave an RO & vinegar bath, and followed it up with a bleach & RO bath, then a couple soaks in just RO water. The rock in the other bin was just pulled out of the aquarium, rinsed off in tank water real good, left out for a couple weeks and then put into storage. That bin there, is the one that has the mold on about 1/2 of the rock. I have used rock from the first bin a few different times, and had no problems with it, but this round I am going to cycle all of the rock. I know a couple other people who are interested in getting started in the hobby, so I am going to give some of it away after it has cycled for a couple months.
As far as the mystery pests go, I honestly believe you will 'fight' or have to deal with 'pests' of some kind, no matter which way you go, whether it's ocean rock, or dry rock. Shimp vs diatoms, crabs vs cyano, etc.

 

[SlugSnorter]

No need to take off layers, or solve any rock for that matter. All I need to do is neutralize whatever it is, that is on the rock now. It will probably be cycling for another couple months after I get it all cleaned.

would be easier to get some new rock maybe, anything "good" on that rock is long dead after sitting years in storage and you wouldn't need to go through extermination of the black stuff

 

[Tamberav]

I let rock sit outside in a bucket and re-used it. I even used a extra large coral skeleton from my moms garden outside (was decretive). No issues. I never bothered with acid or bleach. I just cycled it. I suppose worse case is it could leach out PO4 for awhile if it was from a dirty tank or in a garden for years previously.

but salt will kill the mold... it's not like going to come to life and eat your fish