Recyle Live Rock

[Queen Diva]

Hey folks,

I am curios on how to utilize some live rock.. I took many pieces out of my display due to infestation of glass anemone's, I put them in a garbage pail I use to use for water changes with water from the display. I have them outside with a lid on them..I have not put any flow in it, nor heater, but it nevers gets below high 60's here. I notice or it looks like they pest are gone, I want to break the rock's as they are way to big and use some of them back in my display. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

[Ron Reefman]

Wow, it depends on how long they have been in the bucket, how hot did it get during the day, was it in the sun and was it covered?

Are you hoping that it's still live rock or is it OK if it's just plain old rock now?

I'd add vinegar or muriatic acid to clean the rock before I'd use it. As for breaking it up, if it's good light weight rock it should break up easy.

[tkeracer619]

They're probably still there. If there wasn't any algae issues I would just soak them in bleach water to kill off the remainder of the nems.

[Queen Diva]

Thanks folks
The rocks have been outside in saltwater for a few weeks, so I am assuming I ca had black to assure everything is gone? Should I just set them out in the sun?
So lost

[Green Chromis]

:fish1: Hi, does the rock still have life on it? If it does why kill it with bleach or acid, their are many ways to kill the glass anemones without killing all the life on and in the rock. Put the rock in a container with fresh salt water, out in the sun with a power head and observe it for a few days. If they don't appear you should be safe to go, but like I said if they reappear, then look for one of the many solutions to kill them, kalk paste being one. of them. :fish1:

[billdogg]

IMHO, because aiptasia anemones and cockroaches will be here long after humans are gone, I would not assume that they are dead unless the rock has been out baking in the sun for several days.

I would suggest a muriatic acid bath to insure their demise and to remove any residual organic matter from the surface of the rocks. Rinse them well and you will be able to use them in your system in any way you choose without fear of any unwanted hitchhikers making their way back.

[Queen Diva]

Hi,
The live rock is surely way past holding life. It has been outside,kept in a 30g with old water from that water change. Men's are no where in sight but want to be positive before I return the rocks. How exactly do I use this acid? Is it better to set them outside to dry out in the sun? I am in no rush, I just liked the look of an abundance of rock work. Even though the hems are still in my tank. :mad:
Sometimes I feel like giving up and starting all over.
Thanks for your help

[spiraling]

I was able to get rid of a big infestation with daily use of aptaisa-x and a peppermint shrimp. it is quite possible to eradicate them.

As for your rock - if it has been sitting in salt water at 60+ degrees there is still a great chance there is life on it, particularly bacteria that don't need light. I'm not sure all the ways the nems can propagate, but there are many species of life that can survive long periods of time without light and regenerate. Brine shrimp can live in their little cysts for years on a dry shelf and come back to life.

If you want to keep the life on the rock then you have nothing to lose by adding it to the tank, as you still have the problem there. Although you sill have more areas and hiding places for the aptasia.

if you want to be sure to kill them then take care of the problem in your tank and eradicate all life on the rocks. I find that hot fresh water tends to kill many sea creatures, and bleach does without problem. Be sure to soak with Prime after to get rid of the chlorine. Muric acid will also etch the top layer of rock and possibly get rid of phosphates, but can be dangerous to use. Drying the rock in the sun for a few weeks should be good too.

If you dry the rock or use a chemical be sure to resoak the rock for a few days and test for ammonia, nitrite. If you do have things that you killed, like little sponges, they can start a cycle again.