What should I do to my rocks?

[RedRaiderReefer]

I scored about 150 lbs of rock that has been sitting dry for about 6 months. BUT it was left in a container in saltwater and the water dried up leaving salt all over. Ive been letting them sit in RODI for about 2 weeks. What else should I do?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I'd say add salt and a pump and let it cure. Then use it!

 

[Billldg]

Did you install a power head to allow water movement in the containers to help flush the rock?

Also, was the rock originally live rock, if so it will need to be cycled.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Was this really established LR?

 

[AlexG]

I think leaving the rock in saltwater with a pump is a good idea. Bleaching is an option but if you already used the rock and it is just covered in salt then a curing period with saltwater would be a much easier option.

 

[RedRaiderReefer]

At one point it was live. I'm worried more about salt deposits in the rocks giving me problems with salinity over the first few months of it being in the tank.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I think it will be fine, especially since you used RODI water to start. The salt will leach from the rocks into the water. A pump and time will help ensure it is fully dissolved.

 

[Garee]

I'd do an occasional ammonia test. Make sure params are in check before introducing any livestock. Two weeks is not enough curing time.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Just re-cycling in water with a powerhead should be fine

150lbs of rock would go into a big tank..... big tank = lots of water. Hence, lots of dilution. If they are cycled they can easily start a new tank, or be added into an existing tank without any salinity swings

 

[RedRaiderReefer]

Yeah its going into a new 180g. It will be our biggest tank yet and our first attempt at a reef tank so I just didn't want to start on the wrong foot! The tank is full and has sand and we've added the bacteria to start so Ill let the rock cure a couple more weeks then watch levels in the tank for a couple weeks before adding any livestock.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Did you try testing the Salinity of the RODI it was soaking in to see if/how much it raised it? I would continue to soak with RODI until the salinity is gone or very little.

 

[lapin]

A bit late but you can always pressure wash the rock to get rid of stuff on the outside like dirt and salt.

 

[Garee]

Yeah its going into a new 180g. It will be our biggest tank yet and our first attempt at a reef tank so I just didn't want to start on the wrong foot! The tank is full and has sand and we've added the bacteria to start so Ill let the rock cure a couple more weeks then watch levels in the tank for a couple weeks before adding any livestock.

I'm curious as to what your params are. I had previous used LR soaking for five weeks with noticeable high levels of ammonia

 

[RedRaiderReefer]

I'm curious as to what your params are. I had previous used LR soaking for five weeks with noticeable high levels of ammonia

Its been sitting in storage containers in my garage covered in RODI water. I haven't tested parameters because I haven't started doing anything with it yet.
I've bought lots of rock from our LFS who only cures for 2 weeks and I haven't had a problem on any of our other tanks but thanks for the heads up! Ill keep a close eye on it whenever we do decide to add it to the tank.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Did you try testing the Salinity of the RODI it was soaking in to see if/how much it raised it? I would continue to soak with RODI until the salinity is gone or very little.

High salinity ROdI = less salinity retained in the rocks.

Can’t really leave it in rodi and wait for salt to be gone, because rodi evaporates, salt will just be more concentrated etc. Honestly dunking the rocks in water will knock off enough salt to be fine.

Putting them in the 180 and checking the salinity after a couple days should be fine, and I doubt there will be any noticeable increase.

 

[ZoWhat]

The only way to overcome and dissolve salt deposits is to soak them in a vinegar solution. The acid of the vinegar would dissolve the salt.




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