What happened here?

Yates273 · Oct 26, 2019

I just put dry rock into a large container to cure after it was in a bleach bath for a week then another fresh water rinse for a few days and then dried out. I have a circulation pump for the water which is fine. I figured since I have an air pump let me put that in with a large stone to oxygenate the water. Well I just checked to see how it was doing after a few hours and this is what I found. From what I can gather I essentially made a large protein skimmer. I have since discontinued the use of the air stone.

Flippers4pups · Oct 26, 2019

What form of bleach did you use?

lakai · Oct 26, 2019

looks like he used shampoo

Sinfullchef · Oct 26, 2019

lakai said:
looks like he used shampoo

His fish are gonna smell like lavender for a week

eea60123 · Oct 26, 2019

You need to post the instructions on the diy forum so we can learn how to build that skimmer. Definitely putting mine to shame.

KrisReef · Oct 26, 2019

Was your dry rock previously in a reef tank or in the ocean? It looks like it might need a good rinsing. I can't really tell what was making the foam but I think I would want to remove that from the rock before it goes in the tank, so rinse and filter might be in order?

Brian barranco · Oct 26, 2019

I would personally do acid and bleach

Yates273 · Oct 26, 2019

I used straight bleach. I did 1 gallon bleach to 10 gallons of water. No perfumes. I also tested and the ammonia was at 0. This is just extra rock I got for free so I figured I would put in a container and make live rock. Tank is already aquascaped.

Yates273 · Oct 26, 2019

Guess all the bleach didn’t leach out of the rock?

DesertReefT4r · Oct 26, 2019

Could very well be nutrients being released from the rock.

jeffchapok · Oct 27, 2019

Was it splashless bleach? If so, it has additives that will cause foaming.

Yates273 · Oct 27, 2019

HDX chlorinating Liquid. 10% sodium hypochlorite 90% other ingredients. Just noticed it does not say bleach. It says liquid. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Yates273 · Oct 27, 2019

Yeah I think I f!!!ed up. This stuff is for pools and has some kind of stabilizer in it also. Can I just take rock and put back into a bleach bath and start over. Luckily this is just extra rock.