PDA

View Full Version : Dead Rock


Jerm77
11/18/2008, 12:11 PM
I realized I had a tote full of dead rock. I am currently cycling a new tank. can this rock be used? its been sitting in the tote for about a year.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/jerm77/reeftankpicsday11deadrock.jpg

Logzor
11/18/2008, 12:37 PM
If you have to cycle anyways I would just blast that crud off and put it into the tank.

ScooterBlenny
11/18/2008, 01:05 PM
Sure, just clean it off. It will soon be live rock again!

consumed reef
11/18/2008, 01:12 PM
if it was used in a previous aquarium you may consider giving it a bath in ro/di water plus enough muriatic acid to make it simmer. this will break down the surface of the rock, releasing any bound organics. over time liverock in an aquarium absorbs nitrates and phosphates...it can actually leach back out into the aquarium. giving it an acid bath "cleanses" the surface of the rock from absorbed nutrients.

after the acid bath and rinse you may also want to soak it in bleech water, then of course rinse it thoroughly before beginning the cycle in saltwater.

Jerm77
11/18/2008, 04:01 PM
I think I'll try the "blast off" method. only because I dont know where to buy muriatic acid. so maybe I'll let it sit in some tap water for a day or two and run a powerhead to mix the water. I'll post some pictures to show how it turns out.

m0nk
11/18/2008, 04:18 PM
I'll take it if you don't want it.... heh...

But yeah, it'll be fine, I'd scrub it with a new brush of some kind, and soak it in RO/DI water for a while. Sitting in water would be fine, but I wouldn't use tap, just in case your local tap water has a high level of copper.

crusing52
11/18/2008, 04:21 PM
have some rock cycling in a tote. When I give the tote water changes I give the rock a soft scrub with a soft nylon brush. I had my wife pick the brush up at the dollar store. The crude is falling right off I dip it a few time in the dirty water from the water change and drop in back into the tote. In your case you can cycle it right though with the tank. Just give it a scrub..........Just my 2 cents.

tibbs2
11/18/2008, 04:36 PM
I had rock i threw out on the patio for a year and I just recently I broke down my tank to rebuild it. I washed all the grass clippings out of the rock and put it in the tank. Looks good and the grass stains on the rock will go away in time.

Jerm77
11/18/2008, 05:21 PM
ok RO water it is.

crvz
11/18/2008, 05:53 PM
You can use it, like others say. I'd make some good salt water and let it re-cure, seeded with some other rock for a number of months before putting it in an established tank. But, if it's a new setup, you could re-cure it all in the display.

Jerm77
11/19/2008, 10:29 AM
I know that these rocks had a calurpa infestation.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reefcorner.com/images/GrapeCaulerpa.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/caulerpa.htm&h=480&w=640&sz=59&tbnid=VDoMWfHOqsQJ::&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcaulerpa&hl=en&usg=__pT32oJdkmiz47RycastMCtk1jKs=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=6&ct=image&cd=1

do you think it would have died off completely being stored like that?

m0nk
11/19/2008, 10:50 AM
If it's truly been a year, I don't see how it could survive. Maybe boil the rock, just in case, if you're worried.

consumed reef
11/19/2008, 12:09 PM
i will say it again.

acid bath.

rinse w/ ro.

bleech.

rinse w/ ro again at least twice.

Jerm77
11/19/2008, 12:34 PM
where do you think I can get the acid? where would I dump it when I was done?

consumed reef
11/19/2008, 12:45 PM
you can buy it at any hardware store. lowe's, menard's, home depot, etc. ...usually in or near the paint section with cleaning products. it is used to clean concrete, grout, etc.

you will only use a small amount of it for the rock you are talking. fill that tote up with ro/di to cover the rocks, add a powerhead, then add enough acid to make it start bubbling. probably 1/4 gallon is all you need, if that. it will stop bubbling when it is done, then you can simply dump it down the drain.

all this does is lower the ph of the water to break down the surface of the rock.

Jerm77
11/19/2008, 12:58 PM
I have a ph down(acidic) solution. would that work? do you know what the target ph would be? or am I just looking for the bubbling action?

Naperenterprise
11/19/2008, 01:06 PM
I would just use a bleach / water mix let it sit overnight. Then rinse off very very well, then let it dry.... Once its dry let it sit in regular clean water for 24 hours... and its good to go... I've been doing this for years with no problems at all...

Jerm77
11/29/2008, 03:28 PM
Bleach and water it is.... they are now drying

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/jerm77/reeftankpicsday22001.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/jerm77/reeftankpicsday22002.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/jerm77/reeftankpicsday22003.jpg

Jerm77
12/05/2008, 11:44 AM
I went with the Bleach for two days. and dry out for 3 days. then a RO rince for a day. its now in my tank. we'll see what happends.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/jerm77/reeftankpicsday28newdeadrockadded.jpg