Need Help with Dead Rock

cpllongjk · Jan 11, 2016

I just ordered dried out fiji rock from BRS for my new build. This is not my first time using dry rock from BRS but this is my first time using an acid wash on the rock.

Please correct me if I get any of this wrong.

1. Bleach Rock for 3 days - Rinse very well and power wash to get any loose organics off rock.
2. Soak in RODI 7+ days changing water daily using dechlorinator
3. Acid Bath for 10-15 mintues
4. Use baking soda to neutralize acid
5. Power wash rock again.
6. Soak in RODI 7+ days changing out water daily.
7. Rock ready for tank cycle.

Here is where I get stuck. I have a few big questions.

1. Is it ok to aquascape the rock structure before I bleach and acid wash it? I am making a nano tank so the rock structure will be rather small.

2. Are my soak times enough for the bleach phase, rinsing phases, and acid bath phase?

3. Once the rock has been bleached, given an acid bath, and rinsed well, is it ok to put in tank and cycle with live sand? My plan was to use the RedSea Reef Mature Pro Kit to help speed up seeding the rock and tank.

Any advice you can give would be great. I especially want to know if I should aquascape first as it would allow me to only clean the rock I intend to use.

Thanks,

Jared

CodyRVA · Jan 12, 2016

Maybe someone else can chyme in here, but in case i'm missing something. Why are you bleaching/acid bathing dry rock? If it's never been used before, IE... dry, theres no organic life on the rock to expel; which is the whole point of the this process. If its true dry rock, at most I might rinse in RODI, but it should be safe to aquascape out of the box.

redfishbluefish · Jan 12, 2016

I'm in the same boat! Build your structure and get that rock curing or get it curing and then build your structure. Curing is a heater and a little flow, with an occasional water change....and testing for nitrates and phosphates. No lights needed.

Reefrookie220 · Jan 12, 2016

It is a good idea to rinse it well....all the dust is just a pain if it's not rinsed at all.

dbl · Jan 12, 2016

If I'm not mistaken, BRS recommends curing their dry Fiji rock, as at some point, it was live.

As to putting your aquascape together ahead of time, I will simply offer what I did. I drew out a footprint of the tank. I then put my aquascape together (nothing permanent) the way I imagined I wanted it. I then etched numbers on some zip-ties and labeled each piece of rock and made a diagram showing the layout by rock number, along with a bunch of pictures from all angles. Once all that was done, I went through the following process.

Although I didn't use the BRS rock, I did use dried out "live rock" from a previous reefer. I soaked it in bleach (I didn't want to mess with direct acids) for a couple days and took another step and scrubbed it pretty cleanly with a small wire brush, and rinsed well again. I then cured it in saltwater with a power head, in my case, for nearly two months (not saying that long is necessary). Then when I was ready, it was simple to assemble the aquascape following the diagram I described above. Think of it as rock work by numbers! You can connect the rocks in various manners as you know, from zip locks, to putty, to acrylic rods.

There are obviously a lot of ways to accomplish the same goal. Method above was just how I did it. I will say, I had a very quick cycle once it finally made it to my display.

Reefing Madness · Jan 12, 2016

If its dried out live rock, all the organisms that were once alive on it, are now dead. You need to just cure it before using it. Or you can throw it in your tank, and let the tank cure it, that would be cycling your tank. Up to you, but nothing should grow out of it after being dried out.
Curing it first will allow you to put critters in your tank in a matter of days once you've transferred it to the DT.

Robink · Jun 22, 2016

dbl said:
If I'm not mistaken, BRS recommends curing their dry Fiji rock, as at some point, it was live.

As to putting your aquascape together ahead of time, I will simply offer what I did. I drew out a footprint of the tank. I then put my aquascape together (nothing permanent) the way I imagined I wanted it. I then etched numbers on some zip-ties and labeled each piece of rock and made a diagram showing the layout by rock number, along with a bunch of pictures from all angles. Once all that was done, I went through the following process.

Although I didn't use the BRS rock, I did use dried out "live rock" from a previous reefer. I soaked it in bleach (I didn't want to mess with direct acids) for a couple days and took another step and scrubbed it pretty cleanly with a small wire brush, and rinsed well again. I then cured it in saltwater with a power head, in my case, for nearly two months (not saying that long is necessary). Then when I was ready, it was simple to assemble the aquascape following the diagram I described above. Think of it as rock work by numbers! You can connect the rocks in various manners as you know, from zip locks, to putty, to acrylic rods.

There are obviously a lot of ways to accomplish the same goal. Method above was just how I did it. I will say, I had a very quick cycle once it finally made it to my display.

That's exactly what I wanted to know.