sterilize tank and rock

[Ares]

First of all, I was pretty involved in the hobby up until about 18 months ago. I had some big systems (400+ gallons of total water) and dabbled with pico sized tanks too.

I was bad and didn't quarantine some new frags (on rock) and ended up with an explosion of aptasia, majano, and also some tiny critters that had a taste for my corals. After the dust settled and me doing everything I could think of to save them I lost the battle and lost all my corals.

It's been over a year, broke down most of my system but still have fish in a 58 display and 100 gallon sump.

I'm ready to start things up again but have some questions on sterilizing my current stuff, rocks, tanks, powerheads, etc.

What should I do?

My thoughts were boil the rock little by little (or can I just cook it in the oven or simply soak it in fresh water or outside?)
Soak powerheads in vinegar?
Transplant the fish into a holding tank, scrub the display with vinegar and fresh water?
Repeat with the sump (but what about my mangroves, 6+ years old would hate to lose them)?

I'll just buy new sand but would rather not start over completely on the rock.

thoughts and suggestions?

I was done with the hobby but the time off I've come back around and ready to do it again. Spend a lot of down time inside in the winter so ready to get back at it.

John

 

[KJ]

My thoughts were boil the rock little by little (or can I just cook it in the oven or simply soak it in fresh water or outside

I do a gallon of Muratic acid with the rest tap water in a Rubbermaid container just enough to cover the rock and let it sit overnight

 

[KJ]

tanks, powerheads

Soak in vinegar

 

[FishAddict87]

I just purchased a used 120 and I filled it with the hose and poured a gallon of vinegar and threw in 4 powerheads that needed to be cleaned, rock I purchased from the guy and one working powerhead to keep some flow in there for a week. Im draining it half way and scrubbing it all down (tank, rock and powerheads) and then draining it all the way and refilling it with the hose to rinse everything off again. This should ensure everything is clean and ready to go. Use a wire brush to scrub the rock and powerheads, it works wonders.

 

[Ares]

that actually sounds like a good idea...

I move the fish and mangroves into another tank, then the existing 158 gallon system add 1+ gallons of vinegar, with all the rock, powerheads, etc in it and leave for a week...then drain and repeat to be safe

I just want to be as certain as possible those little jerks are dead

 

[Ares]

the mangroves before adding them back to the saltwater system I could give them a good freshwater bath and put them in freshwater for a few days to kill any salt specific critters

 

[Harold Green]

Anytime I want to remove algae from rocks I throw them in a five gallon bucket, fill it with water and then add a cup of unscented bleach. Let it soak a day. Rinse allowing it to soak in plain water a day or two more. Then air dry for a couple of days. I've never had anything survive that and the bleach doesn't affect the rock any that I can tell.