old live rock/dead rock question

[dricc]

I have some former live rock sitting in a cellar for 16 years. How do i go about treating it before i place it in a new unestablished tank. I am going to get Dr. Tim's one and only once I finally place the rock in the tank to hopefully help seed the rock. I have heard of using vinegar baths etc. What do you consider the best method to prepare the rock? tia

 

[Va_Reef]

I would give it a muriatic acid bath, then put it in a tub with saltwater for a month or two, with a powerhead and a heater. Basically you'll need to let it cure all over again.

 

[Brew12]

I would give it a muriatic acid bath, then put it in a tub with saltwater for a month or two, with a powerhead and a heater. Basically you'll need to let it cure all over again.

+1 on this.
You could use vinegar instead of the muriatic acid if you would like. It is a little less effective but safer to handle.

Just be prepared that once the old life on this rock starts to rehydrate and decompose, it will smell awful. Not something you want to do in your house or basement.

If you get it started as above (especially using the vinegar) the rock will go from cooking, to curing, to cycling before it ever makes it into your tank. Odds are you won't need any bacteria product at all.

 

[GoVols]

I have some former live rock sitting in a cellar for 16 years. How do i go about treating it before i place it in a new unestablished tank. I am going to get Dr. Tim's one and only once I finally place the rock in the tank to hopefully help seed the rock. I have heard of using vinegar baths etc. What do you consider the best method to prepare the rock? tia

@Perry
Can you help OP?
I think he has a acid wash method for old dry rock. It knocks out all the locked in the rock goodies so they don't leach out in your display causing hair algae

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I put mostly old used dry rock and sand in a bucket with tank water and a powerhead. After two weeks it stank. after three it didn't. after a month I did a water change with old tank water.
After two months and the first water change with clean fresh water the No3 was undetectable, the Po4 was quite low. After a month in the tank with no livestock the nutrints read zero.
The sand was donated by a friend and well rinsed as was some of the rock. the other largest rock was from the coast of california a friend had fished out of the ocean and had been let dry. the last piece of rock I found In my moms backyard In Utah and quite likely came from New Mexico. Currently, 10+ mos later, the tank is fishless and the Nutrients are undetectable in a skimmer less filterless tank. I didn't clean the rock or sand btw.

Peroxide, muriatic acid, Vinegar and bleach should dissolve most of the organics, and release bound organic Phosphates from the surface of the rock. Id go bleach as a last choice pers. But the aggressive bacterial treatment while "cooking" and curing the rock will also do more than most give it credit.

Congrats Btw, 16yr old Rock is cool! I think "power washing" would be a good first step.

 

[fragit]

I started my tank with Dry Pukani, baisically the same as what your doing. I just put mine in a brute can with salt water and a pump and heater, plus a bottle of bacteria. I turned the heat up pretty high like 86 degrees and let it "cook" for 2-3 months. It smelled pretty awful the fist week but then was fine. I did a water change after a month. Never had any issues with organics of any kind. I thought about the muratic bath but just felt it was too much trouble. Letting it cure on it's own works just as well IMO.

 

[dricc]

I had a fowlr tank for 10 years had a heat problem i couldn' t figure out. I was working 7 days a week morning till night so I tore down the tank. I've been reading on this forum for many years and now have the tank and almost all the equipment. I' m getting excited but want to take it slowly. It' s a little intimidating being out of the
hobby for 16 years but I think I am ready?lol