Nuking Live Rock....

[bevo5]

Hi all - so a couple weeks ago I had a question about nuking my QT after (what appears to be) a velvet outbreak wiped out a group of anthias.

So I nuked the QT with a combination of tons of bleach, drying, and freshwater over about 12 days. Now it's cycling with saltwater and pure ammonia.

Question - I had some live rock in there just for hiding spots and biological filtration. I know it's not necessary in a QT but the fish seemed to like it. I left it in for the bleaching (about 3 days with a ton of bleach). And now it's been drying out in my garage ever since.

So - can I reuse that rock? Or could it hold onto the velvet or whatever the issue was?

 

[melypr1985]

Hi all - so a couple weeks ago I had a question about nuking my QT after (what appears to be) a velvet outbreak wiped out a group of anthias.

So I nuked the QT with a combination of tons of bleach, drying, and freshwater over about 12 days. Now it's cycling with saltwater and pure ammonia.

Question - I had some live rock in there just for hiding spots and biological filtration. I know it's not necessary in a QT but the fish seemed to like it. I left it in for the bleaching (about 3 days with a ton of bleach). And now it's been drying out in my garage ever since.

So - can I reuse that rock? Or could it hold onto the velvet or whatever the issue was?

Letting it dry out completely would have taken care of the velvet or any other living thing on it. Of course the bleach certainly helped kill everything before that. Just be sure that rock was rinsed, dried and rinsed again VERY WELL.

 

[bevo5]

Ok cool - thanks.

I'll certainly give it a good soaking in fresh water and prime. I've bleached a ton of rocks in the past, but I just wasn't sure how persistent some of these parasites etc. are.

 

[Humblefish]

This is gonna sound scary but ..... If you dose free chlorine (60 mg/L) and let it circulate in your tank for 24 hrs, you will:

1. Have killed everything, including the tomont & theront stage of ich.
2. After 24 hrs all the chlorine will have "off-gassed" and you can begin recycling your tank. The rock/substrate are fine as is, except for any die-off which might actually help kick start your cycle.

Unfortunately, the above doesn't apply when it comes to chloramine which is most municipalities use to process tap water. Gotta use a water condition for that nasty stuff.

 

[bevo5]

Well - I just went for the nuclear option and dosed a couple cups of bleach.

But then fresh water for two days coupled with a ton of Prime. Then another freshwater refill and prime. Now salwater and another bunch of Prime.

I'm thinking it's free of bleach....going to let it roll for a week before adding any fish. I've got a bunch of bio media in my main sump that has been soaking for months...so it should help with the cycle.

Thanks all.