Cleaning rocks

[mpyers]

Bought some used rocks. They're COVERED in hair algae. What the best way to clean them up?

[ct103]

quarantine tank with lots of water changes and little or no light.

[mpyers]

quarantine tank with lots of water changes and little or no light.
Not an option unless I use my bathtub.

[Pandagobyguy]

Just put it in the DT (if you have nothing in it) and do a blackout until it is clean.
Then check nitrogen levels and do a WC to get them down.
Or just take it off by hand/brush (or even toothbrush) and keep nitrogen low to make sure it doesnt reestablish.

In the end youll have to do what ct suggested but you dont need to do it in a quarantine tank specifically.

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[Mark9]

Just put it in the DT (if you have nothing in it) and do a blackout until it is clean.


I wouldn't put it in my tank, who knows whats on it.
Brush them clean, put in a 5 gallon pail with some vinegar, water and a powerhead, leave it for a few days, then switch to salt water, cure for a couple weeks, maybe 3 or 4.

[SFish]

I agree put the rocks in a bucket or something other then the DT and cover it up. Brush as much algae off as you can. Put something in the bucket to help get rid of PO4 some GFO would work then test till PO4 is gone. You can have no algae on the rock but if PO4 is leaching off of the rock it will come back.

[scooter31707]

I would dip them in hydrogen peroxide or give them a acid bath.

[windlasher]

Acid bath - Nuke em from space... "It's the only way to be sure."

[mpyers]

I did hydrogen peroxide. I brushed them off. Next I'll do vinegar. Im in no hurry.

[CStrickland]

Muriatic acid from Home Depot is quicker and more effective than vinegar. Look for threads on acid bathing rock, and do follow the safety precautions.

[inurmind]

Put in a rubbermade or like bucket with a lid and add a pump and a heater (you can keep it way lower than 78 btw, just not freezing) and change the water every so often. The algae will die off with no light and you can add after that and a good scrubbing.