Muriatic acid bath question

[TKCC]

I have ~75 lbs. of live rock that's was infected with aptasia & a little bubble algae. I want to insure everything is dead before starting to cycle this rock. I'm in no hurry and want to be sure it's done right. I've never done a acid bath, and was hoping to get some advise. Is this the correct procedures:

Use a 10:1 ration of water to acid (add water first, then acid)
How long do i let it soak?
Do i neutralize the water with baking soda before removing/rinsing the rock?
rinse and let the rock dry in the sun.

Please advise on best practices for an acid bath. Thanks!

[dkeller_nc]

There are quite a lot of discussions on this topic on Reef Central (several on the Reef Chemistry forum).

With respect to your rock, here's my thoughts (and with an education and background in chemistry):

Many threads suggest bleaching and then acid washing. In my opinion, that's unnecessary - the HCl (muriatic acid) will kill everything that the bleach will, and will also strip off the top surface layer of the rock, removing precipitated phosphate and organics in the process.

While you can use a 1:10 dilution of HCl to water for very fast (and violent! do this outdoors only with proper eye and skin protection) results, I'd suggest a 1:100 dilution, which will give you a final acid concentration of about 0.1N HCl. That'll still be effective at killing everything and solubilizing the outer few microns of the rock's surface, but is far less violent of a reaction and considerably safer if you happen to splash your skin. If you go with 0.1N HCl, I'd recommend a couple of hours soaking.

I would recommend removing the rock from the bath (with black rubber janitor's gloves to protect your skin) onto an impervious surface like a driveway, hosing it off with tap water, then rinsing it in a tub of RODI. Then it's good to go into a new, sterile tank - drying in the sun isn't necessary.

Neutralize the remaining acid in the tub with baking soda or lye. Again, realize that an acid:base neutralization reaction can be quite violent, so be prepared with eye/face protection, old clothes, and a waiting hose in case you get splashed.

[KingTriton1]

I personally would use bleach.

[blitz49]

For me I did the 30 min acid bath and than neutralized with baking soda. I rinsed and than soaked in RO water for 3 days. The rocks still showed high amount of phosphate when tested. So I used lanthanum chloride for 3 days, and then rinse really well and soaked in RO for another 5 days. I tested for phosphates on the 4th and 5th day, and it was zero. I did another final rinse before throwing it into the tank.

[blitz49]

BTW, when using lanthanum chloride make sure you have a fine sock filter to catch the precipitate.

[reefgeezer]

Many threads suggest bleaching and then acid washing. In my opinion, that's unnecessary - the HCl (muriatic acid) will kill everything that the bleach will...

I agree the acid kills everything. I use bleach first because I've found that the acid does a poor job of eating away the left over tissue from the stuff it killed. Soaking in bleach first eats those tissues that would be left over by the acid. So... soak in a strong bleach water solution for 24 hours - rinse until there is no more bleach small (adding dechlorinator is a good idea) - acid bath per dkeller_nc's instructions from above,

BLEACH & ACID MAKE CHLORINE GAS! MAKE SURE THE ROCK IS RINSED WELL OR OTHERWISE DECHLORINATED BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE ACID. DO THE ACID BATH OUTDOORS. DON"T BREATH THE FUMES. EVEN ay 100:1you'll find it takes more backing soda than you think to neutralize the water. Buy a big bag.

[Jlentz]

When I did my pukani a few months back I did MA then bleach. After a rinse soak in water.

For the acid, I just filled up most of the container (30g) with water and poured in a gal jug of MA. I let it soak/fizz/bubble for about 30min and dumped a box of baking soda on it. Dumped it after it chilled out and refilled with freshwater to soak overnight. Next day, gallon of chlorine.

Two months of rodi with LC in the garage, about 5 full water changes.

[Jlentz]

One more point about the acid. Never add water to acid. Only add acid to water. (It boils)

[triguy]

after soaking in acid and after being neutralized with baking soda, what do you do with the water? Just dump it out on ground? Any effects is dumped on grass? Considering doing the acid bath to my rock, but concerned about kids outside in neighboring houses and fumes.

[Jlentz]

after soaking in acid and after being neutralized with baking soda, what do you do with the water? Just dump it out on ground? Any effects is dumped on grass? Considering doing the acid bath to my rock, but concerned about kids outside in neighboring houses and fumes.


I did it on the side of the house where I don't want grass to grow. Just dumped it there. I neutralized it first so no worries about the acid.

I'd be most concerned about the fumes. If you are careful it's really not a big deal.

It's totally worth it.

[triguy]

Picked up my muriatic acid today. Can I use tap water for the acid bath? Planning on soaking in rodi or saltwater after the rocks are clean. Don't have a tank set up anymore, so this is just getting rock ready for a new tank. Not sure how long before rock will go in a tank.

[Jlentz]

I used rap for the acid bath. I did a long Rodi soak after while dosing LC with about 4 100% water changes. After that I put it in the tank and saltwater to start cycle.

I was really taking my time though. I think you could do it a lot faster.

[nuxx]

Use a 10:1 ration of water to acid (add water first, then acid)
How long do i let it soak?
Do i neutralize the water with baking soda before removing/rinsing the rock?
rinse and let the rock dry in the sun.

Please advise on best practices for an acid bath. Thanks!

Sounds right...

I left ours in there until you could tell there really wasn't much of a reaction happening...

I dipped the rock in two buckets of RODI after to rinse off.

Dirty Bucket and less dirty bucket.

Then light dry off in the sun.