Opinions before I bleach my rock and ruin it.

[Mark Novack]

Hello Boston,
My grandparents lived in Brookline. My father was Army so Boston was like home central, the place we returned to every summer.

Anyway, bleaching was the right thing to do. Ten years of aquarium use, disease, filth, unbeatable cyanobacterias (when people write Cyano for short, I think of instant glue, cyanoacrylate) and still thriving vermatids in 3 degree Celsius fresh water. There was live spong and colt coral. I managed to get most of it off before the bleach so it went in cleanish but smelly and slimy. Its looking really nice now.

The aquarium just topped the overflow with RO this morning and the sump is starting to fill. No leaks detected using a cotton swab around all connections. It should be turned on and salted in the next couple of days. I'm still installing equipment trying to get it clean and neat. As slow as I am, I should still be ready to aquascape when the rock is properly rinsed.

 

[BostonReefer300]

Hello Boston,
My grandparents lived in Brookline. My father was Army so Boston was like home central, the place we returned to every summer.

Anyway, bleaching was the right thing to do. Ten years of aquarium use, disease, filth, unbeatable cyanobacterias (when people write Cyano for short, I think of instant glue, cyanoacrylate) and still thriving vermatids in 3 degree Celsius fresh water. There was live spong and colt coral. I managed to get most of it off before the bleach so it went in cleanish but smelly and slimy. Its looking really nice now.

The aquarium just topped the overflow with RO this morning and the sump is starting to fill. No leaks detected using a cotton swab around all connections. It should be turned on and salted in the next couple of days. I'm still installing equipment trying to get it clean and neat. As slow as I am, I should still be ready to aquascape when the rock is properly rinsed.

Sounds awesome---send pics!

 

[Mark Novack]

Here are yesterday's photos. I'm using R2R and photos as a calender to remember when I did what. The tank is turning over at 1.017 salinity and 29 degrees Celsius with one 22kg bucket of Red Sea coral pro and Prodbio bacteria and bacteria nutrients poured into the Marine Pure in a small container and then into the sump. Skimmer is running but fully open for O2. I'll have to turn it off. It removes the Prodbio food fast.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello,
This is old live rock that has been through several aquariums. I was planning on sterilizing with acid and bleach as I placed it in a cistern a few months ago outside, in the cold and covered it with fresh tap water where it has been ever since. Today I looked closely and there is still live marine life on those rocks. Sponge, some macro algae. The salinity is 1.001 or like softened water.

Should I skip the bleach and go right to a three week salt water cure? I believe there may still be some good stuff in the rocks. These rocks sit dry on the docks for weeks before leaving the tropics and still have all of the life needed. If there is dormant pod life but viable, I don't want to kill it.

Opinions? I could start a salt water cure tomorrow.

Humble thanks,
Mark

The rocks are probably worthless now that they have soaked in freshwater. Might as well finish the destruction.

 

[Mark Novack]

The rock has been dunk rinsed in rain water and then placed in a bucket in the shower with slowly overflowing hot water. It then went back into the 300 liter cistern, still steaming from the shower. Its been filled with new fresh water and an overdose of water conditioner. I shall place a small pump and large heater to get it as warm as possible to aid in degassing. The final rinse will be in RO water.

 

[BostonReefer300]

Here are yesterday's photos. I'm using R2R and photos as a calender to remember when I did what. The tank is turning over at 1.017 salinity and 29 degrees Celsius with one 22kg bucket of Red Sea coral pro and Prodbio bacteria and bacteria nutrients poured into the Marine Pure in a small container and then into the sump. Skimmer is running but fully open for O2. I'll have to turn it off. It removes the Prodbio food fast.

Nice clean looking setup!

 

[Mark Novack]

Months later, I'm looking back and bleaching was the right decision. The aquarium is doing magnificently.