Reusing old live rock

[ReeferBen]

I broke my old tank down a few years ago, stored the live rock dry in my basement for a while and then this summer it ended up being poured on my above ground deck. Its been out in the rain snow etc..

I hope I can I use it, there is some gems of pieces there. Should I soak it in RO/DI for awhile first? Anything else I should do?

 

[TriggerThis]

Just hose it off real good and get as much dirt and stuff out of the holes as possible then toss it in if it's a new tank.

For an existing tank I would scrub it in saltwater or RO then rinse then put in tank.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, just rinse the dust off and throw em back in the tank. For anything narly looking on them, bleach em out, then rinse for 24hours before use.

 

[64Ivy]

Not too sure I'd just rinse 'em off and toss 'em in like that, especially if they've been sitting outside in the elements for awhile. At the very least, bleach them, rinse, then soak them in a reef safe container for a week or so while performing a couple PO4 tests. If your phosphates are rising, you may have some more work to do.

 

[KingOfPain86]

Use and acid wash. That or vinegar. Then rise with RO well.

 

[ReeferBen]

Thanks its a new tank but I transfered livestock from my older nano over to the 110 so it needs to be clean.

Use and acid wash.

What would that help with? What kind of acid?

 

[JMSKI333]

Acid will melt of the outer layer of the rock where all the Phosphates are hiding. I would clean them manually, than I would soak them in an R/O bath to pull out the phosphates. I wouldn't just throw them in your tank because you will surly have an algae problem for awhile until the phosphates are all gone.

 

[ReeferBen]

What kind of acid?

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Some people will use muriatic acid. Extreme caution needs to be taken when working with it.

 

[TriggerThis]

Vinegar is also a lighter more gentle acid

 

[Reefing Madness]

LIVE ROCK ACID BATH - REEFEDITION

 

[ReeferBen]

Thanks, think ill stop by the pool store on the way home.

 

[64Ivy]

I use Lanthanum in the form of SeaKleer Commercial Phosphate Remover, by the way. It's also available at Pool and Spa Supply stores. Takes longer, but much safer to use than Muriatic.

 

[JC-Coral]

You should just power wash, dry, then start curing them again.

 

[townjas]

Would RO with some H2O2 work? I just bought some used rock and the guy had it stored in a trash can with saltwater...no heat or circulation.

 

[Quinn123]

I have old live rock sitting outside for years. Rinse, soak for 24 hrs and throw them in the tank with no problem at all.

 

[KoleTang]

There's going to be die off, phosphates and all sorts of nasty stuff in that rock. Definitely do a Muriatic acid wash. It's not that hard to do.

 

[ReeferBen]

Muriatic acid wash done. I had some rocks come out nice and clean but some came out with a rust looking layer on them. I have the rock soaking in RO water now and scrubbed it off after the acid wash.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Agree with just rinse and put in tank. It'll cycle but nothing out of the ordinary. It'll fire right back up again. No need to over do it cleaning them.