MichaelReefer
2500 Club Member
Kind of a random question about soaking dry rock... Does it matter if it's soaked in RODI, Salt water or just tap water? Especially if it is soaked for months? Just wanting to get the silicates out of it.
Soaking Dry Rock
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JCTReefer
Valuable Member
Depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.
What are you trying to accomplish? If your goal is to culture bacteria and seed the rock then RO/Di-saltwater Is needed for the bacteria to do its thing. If you’re trying to get rid of organics bound up and “cook” the rock, then bleach mixed with Ro/Di at an10:1 ration would be appropriate. Then when phosphates are at desired levels, you can empty the bleach water out and soak in plain Ro/Di with a dechlorinator like prime. I wouldn’t soak in tap water either way. Here’s a link that BRS did on curing rock if you’d like to watch it.
What are you trying to accomplish? If your goal is to culture bacteria and seed the rock then RO/Di-saltwater Is needed for the bacteria to do its thing. If you’re trying to get rid of organics bound up and “cook” the rock, then bleach mixed with Ro/Di at an10:1 ration would be appropriate. Then when phosphates are at desired levels, you can empty the bleach water out and soak in plain Ro/Di with a dechlorinator like prime. I wouldn’t soak in tap water either way. Here’s a link that BRS did on curing rock if you’d like to watch it.
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BrandonS
Well-Known Member
I personally have had mined rock leach phosphate on me for a while. Guess sometimes they are mined from under field where fertilizer has been used for years.
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MichaelReefer
2500 Club Member
Yeah, when I got my new tank and added some that was just washed I had major issues even when running GFO, Cyano and hair algae attack. That's why I'm curious if I should soak a batch for a while before I make more of my aquascape. I just dont know if Chlorine or other things in the tap water will be absorbed into the rock?
