Questions About Adding Some New Rock

CastAway · Nov 24, 2015

Several months ago I bought 25lbs of new dry rock (three pieces), and have had it in a circulating tub of salt water for weeks. I've changed the water completely once, and am getting ready to change it once more. The phosphates in the water were and are off the scale.

I think I know better, but, how much risk might there be in adding just one of the three pieces to my 210g system? Could I hope that the volume of the system would be able to deal with the phosphate compared to the 30g tub with no export?

If it's asking for disaster adding this rock, is lanthanum chloride a good way to deal with this phosphate issue before adding?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

CastAway · Nov 24, 2015

....maybe I should just keep it soaking, and changing water, until no PO4 is detected?

cee · Nov 24, 2015

What kind of rock did you get? Pukani has lots of dead stuff in it and therefore takes quite a bit longer to cure.

I always put my dry rock through a muriatic acid bath followed by lanthanum chloride soaks replaced daily until PO4 is not detected. Then I put it in salt water for at least a week with circulation to make sure PO4 is gone. Since the PO4 you're measuring is in the rock, it will continue to leach if you put it in your tank and will likely do so for some time.

BlueDevil · Nov 24, 2015

If the rocks are in a separate tub, dosing lanthanum chloride would be the preferred way to go IMHO. Chances are your system may be able to handle adding a piece at a time. However, once in the tank, it may lead to other unwanted stuff like algae problems. Additionally, you may not know what your true PO4 levels are in the tank at that point since the algae might consume some of it and you end up with a lower reading.

twilliard · Nov 24, 2015

Hi there!!
Personally I would wait for the po4 to come down.
Po4 is something I wouldn't want in my tank
Hope all is well!

CastAway · Nov 24, 2015

The PO4 did go down between water changes, although it's still a shade or purple (Red Sea) beyond what the kit measures.

So another water change and some time I guess.

Thanks guys.

twilliard · Nov 24, 2015

Oh my purple?
Can you do a 100% water change?

CastAway · Nov 25, 2015

Yes. I change the 30g completely, taking 30 from my system when I do a water change. Purple!

twilliard · Nov 25, 2015

CastAway said:
Yes. I change the 30g completely, taking 30 from my system when I do a water change. Purple!

That is so odd?
I think there is something more going on just can't put my finger on it

CastAway · Nov 25, 2015

I had read stories about pukani leaching. I started my 150 with 80lbs of it after only spraying it off in the driveway, cause it was dusty.

I'm tempted to spray down the new stuff, regardless of the effect on the bacteria/cycle. I just want it in the tank.

BlueDevil · Nov 25, 2015

Doubt there's any pests if it was dry rock., but if you're hitting the reset button, might as well do a bleach treatment followed by a muriatic acid bath. This should definitely get rid of any unwanted stuff as well as help with phosphates.

Reefrookie220 · Nov 25, 2015

Jeff, you got your three pieces of that rock then I bought the rest...this stuff is so packed with phosphate that after a 2 month cure algae crashed my 90(other factors as well but this was the worst) but am using now with no issues. My procedure:

I did the same bath you did and got the same results you did.

I dried the rock a second time (not necessary)

Muratic acid bath in a 30g tote I used 1.5 gallons. Be sure to do this out side as it foams up crazy.

Rinse and repeat if needed but with only 3 pieces of rock it'd probably be unnecessary.

It eats the surface of the rock and after that I still had to do the tub cycle again but phosphate came way down with each water change. Using now with no issues.