what to do with dry rock/live rock...help

[Vmacisback]

I recently purchased 100lbs of live rock from my lfs. The rock had been in their live rock tank for a very long time. Up to two years for some of the rocks. Its been sitting outside for a few days because i dont plan on starting my tank for a while. Atleast 2 mos. In this time i want to rid the rock of bad stuff that may leach. I dont feel like "cooking" the rock and all the water changes on it that you have to do. Can someone lead me in the right direction, i just really dont wanna deal with phosphates in my new SPS tank. Thanks. If cooking it is what i have to do then ill just have to deal with it, just looking for other options.

 

[glamisracers]

I just let my sit in the sun for a week and dry out and then put into barrels with fresh saltwater a powerhead a heater and light to make it live again havnt had any problems with the rock yet

 

[StevenBell]

First off;dont try and rush things-you will regret it later on!I do however commend you for trying to rid it of bad stuff.The only real down fall I see is that you will have tons of die off,leading to massive ammonia spike in cycle.BUT its just a cycle so you should be good to go!BUT if your are putting it into your reef that is already mature,expect losses

 

[Vmacisback]

First off;dont try and rush things-you will regret it later on!I do however commend you for trying to rid it of bad stuff.The only real down fall I see is that you will have tons of die off,leading to massive ammonia spike in cycle.BUT its just a cycle so you should be good to go!BUT if your are putting it into your reef that is already mature,expect losses

I have plenty of time so im definitely not going to rush. Is there a way to lessen the die off? I have approx 2mos before this rock touches my new tank.

 

[Reefing Madness]

You can either leave it sit out in the sun for a few weeks, which will kill off the garbage, or you can give every piece a bleach/water bath. But lets not forget that Live Rock is a SW rock, so by you leaving it all sit in a tub of FW will also kill off SW bacteria.
But trying to get everything deep in the rock, and trying to keep it from leaching back out, well, thats tough to do.

 

[Vmacisback]

You can either leave it sit out in the sun for a few weeks, which will kill off the garbage, or you can give every piece a bleach/water bath. But lets not forget that Live Rock is a SW rock, so by you leaving it all sit in a tub of FW will also kill off SW bacteria.
But trying to get everything deep in the rock, and trying to keep it from leaching back out, well, thats tough to do.

I was thinking a bleach bath but was a little nervous. Any instruction on how to to do a bleach bath? Will this reduce the amount of die off I would see if I were to just start the tank and cycle?

 

[MondoBongo]

i recently got a large batch of dry rock and wanted to make sure it was cleaned and purged of anything i could get rid of.

i gave it a bath in bleach and rodi, then rodi and dechlorinator, and finally rodi with muriatic acid. i waited until the bubbling went down and did a second dose of acid, and waited for the bubbling to stop again. then dumped a large amount of baking soda in to neutralize the muriatic acid, and then moved all the rock to a large tub of rodi to soak until i was ready for it.

the thread i saw on it was called "rock rejuvenation". using the acid is supposed to remove the top layers of stuff like phosphates and organic matter that could otherwise leach.

obviously it is a potentially dangerous situation with the muriatic acid. you need to make sure to wear gloves and eye protection, and never pour water in to acid, only acid in to water. it cuts down on the splashing risk.

also make sure you don't breath the fumes, and don't combine bleach and acid.

if you decide to go that route, you can google around for the in depth instructions. it's not as bad a process as you might assume at first look, and places like home depot and loews sell muriatic acid for removing stains and etching things like concrete. i had about 90 pounds of dry rock, and only used about 3/4 a gallon of the acid.

 

[Reefing Madness]

i recently got a large batch of dry rock and wanted to make sure it was cleaned and purged of anything i could get rid of.

i gave it a bath in bleach and rodi, then rodi and dechlorinator, and finally rodi with muriatic acid. i waited until the bubbling went down and did a second dose of acid, and waited for the bubbling to stop again. then dumped a large amount of baking soda in to neutralize the muriatic acid, and then moved all the rock to a large tub of rodi to soak until i was ready for it.

the thread i saw on it was called "rock rejuvenation". using the acid is supposed to remove the top layers of stuff like phosphates and organic matter that could otherwise leach.

obviously it is a potentially dangerous situation with the muriatic acid. you need to make sure to wear gloves and eye protection, and never pour water in to acid, only acid in to water. it cuts down on the splashing risk.

also make sure you don't breath the fumes, and don't combine bleach and acid.

if you decide to go that route, you can google around for the in depth instructions. it's not as bad a process as you might assume at first look, and places like home depot and loews sell muriatic acid for removing stains and etching things like concrete. i had about 90 pounds of dry rock, and only used about 3/4 a gallon of the acid.

There ya go.

 

[Rob&Gab]

get a big tubb and put rock in it with 80% fresh water and bleach, Make sure to churn the water then put rock in let soak for 48hours, Take out empty the tub, Place back in the bucket with just fresh water for 48 Hours, Then let sit out side for 24hours on one side then Flip to the other side for another 24-48hours, Then Saltwater & PRIME for 48Hours in the tubb/bucket Then you should be ready to go. My girlfriend is doing the same excat steps i just told you to do. By this time rock will be Dead and some what benificial with bactirea cause of the Prime You should not hit a big cycle with the rock cause its dead no living things on it. Good luck and cant wait too see your new build.

 

[Vmacisback]

get a big tubb and put rock in it with 80% fresh water and bleach, Make sure to churn the water then put rock in let soak for 48hours, Take out empty the tub, Place back in the bucket with just fresh water for 48 Hours, Then let sit out side for 24hours on one side then Flip to the other side for another 24-48hours, Then Saltwater & PRIME for 48Hours in the tubb/bucket Then you should be ready to go. My girlfriend is doing the same excat steps i just told you to do. By this time rock will be Dead and some what benificial with bactirea cause of the Prime You should not hit a big cycle with the rock cause its dead no living things on it. Good luck and cant wait too see your new build.

this is what i was looking for. SO once i get through all the bleach steps and drying steps. Can i leave the rock in new sw and start a cycle in a trash can with the rock? I kinda think thats what ur saying anyway.