New tank + dry rock

[dugthefish]

Starting a new tank, will be putting in 100# or so of new, dry rock. Since this rock has no dead organisms to clean off, or questionable microbes/bacteria to kill, do I still need to go through the process of bleaching and heavy cleaning? The thought of standing outside with a power washer in 40* temperatures is not appealing lol. Think good rinse in the sink will suffice? Not looking to cut corners, but not interested in overkill, either.

 

[pdiehm]

no. rinse off if you want (I did not), fill up, get to temperature and start the cycle.

 

[lapin]

Dry rock. I would assume you mean rock that has been mined from dry coral beds out of the ground and not rock that has been drying in the sun and has dead material on it.
If its mined then rinsing will be enough. Outside with a hose in the driveway is pretty easy if its not below freezing. You might not want all the sand /silt to go down your drain. What you need to watch for is leeching of phosphates as the rock dissolves in water. Soaking the rock in a rubber maid trash can for a week or 2 will let you know if that is something that you need to address. You can start you curing cycle in the can and then move the rock to your tank. This leaves the water full of unwanted nitrates behind, saving you from a big water change of tank water.

 

[dugthefish]

Dry rock. I would assume you mean rock that has been mined from dry coral beds out of the ground and not rock that has been drying in the sun and has dead material on it.

Yes, mined

 

[dugthefish]

Ok, next question. Once I hose down my new rock, it needs to soak and let phosphates leech out, correct? I currently have dechlorinated tap water circulating in my tank for testing. Was planning on draining this weekend, and hooking up the RO to start filling the tank. What would happen if I just tossed the rock in there for a couple weeks, and stored RO in some other containers? All the crap should leach out into fresh water as well, right?

 

[pdiehm]

What rock? i have reef cleaners and no phosphates

 

[dugthefish]

Took a flier on this, and also some rock of unknown origins from a guy who bought too much

 

[KrisReef]

Ok, next question. Once I hose down my new rock, it needs to soak and let phosphates leech out, correct? I currently have dechlorinated tap water circulating in my tank for testing. Was planning on draining this weekend, and hooking up the RO to start filling the tank. What would happen if I just tossed the rock in there for a couple weeks, and stored RO in some other containers? All the crap should leach out into fresh water as well, right?

This would work, but if you add salt you would also start the marine cycle. I noticed leaching phosphate in a day, but that rock was really dirty before I started to cure it. Some rock has no leaching problems, at all.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

I used mined rock, sprayed it off in the driveway, a few days later tossed it in the tank filled it. Been cycling for couple of months now and had zero problems with it.