New rock question

Vadafallon · 06/25/2018, 11:22 AM

So i have two pieces of Pukani rock that has been sitting outside for a year. There are leaves and dirty and who knows what else in the rock. What's the easiest way to clean this out and make sure there are not phosphates lingering in the rock? Just throw it in a trash can with salt water and a pump to move the water for a few months?

scooter31707 · 06/25/2018, 11:29 AM

I don't know if I would take a chance with that. Has that location been treated with fertilizer or any weed/grass killer? Only 2 pieces, I would probably suck it up and by some more.

Vadafallon · 06/25/2018, 11:51 AM

No, don't think so. Been mostly sitting on the concrete i think. But i hear ya on being chancy. Its so pretty though lol. I won't be setting up a new tank for probably 3-6 months. I just moved so it will be a while. I am just getting all my eggs in the basket before i start.

Skittlz · 06/25/2018, 12:00 PM

This is a great question.
My fishtank guy just traded some store credit for some amazing live rock that someone brought in. He said he needed to clean it and cure it. i would say you need to essentially put it in salt and pump and start the cycle to cure it and monitor the levels and continue to do so until all the levels are optimal for about 3 months. Thats what he is doing.... anyone disagree?

Vadafallon · 06/25/2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skittlz

This is a great question.
My fishtank guy just traded some store credit for some amazing live rock that someone brought in. He said he needed to clean it and cure it. i would say you need to essentially put it in salt and pump and start the cycle to cure it and monitor the levels and continue to do so until all the levels are optimal for about 3 months. Thats what he is doing.... anyone disagree?

That is kinda what i was thinking too. I just wanted to make sure though. Even if it were touch by some type of chemical i would think after 3-6 months with some water changes here and there anything traces of really anything should be gone.

mcgyvr · 06/25/2018, 02:31 PM

I had 80+ lbs of rock sitting in a bucket in my backyard with leaves/twigs/dirt/spiders/mosquito's,etc...
I simply dumped it on my driveway and hit it with the powerwasher then let it dry in the sun.....and into the new tank it went..

If you are concerned about phosphates then put them into a curing tank and check if for phosphates every week or so and adapt as needed...
If you aren't measuring phosphates then you can take it out of that tank and do whatever you want with it..

homer1475 · 06/25/2018, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I had 80+ lbs of rock sitting in a bucket in my backyard with leaves/twigs/dirt/spiders/mosquito's,etc...
I simply dumped it on my driveway and hit it with the powerwasher then let it dry in the sun.....and into the new tank it went..

If you are concerned about phosphates then put them into a curing tank and check if for phosphates every week or so and adapt as needed...
If you aren't measuring phosphates then you can take it out of that tank and do whatever you want with it..

+1

I would pressure wash it, and probably soak it for a while just to make sure nothing leached out of it.

Vadafallon · 06/26/2018, 05:51 AM

Thanks folks

06/25/2018, 11:22 AM	#1
Vadafallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 974	New rock question So i have two pieces of Pukani rock that has been sitting outside for a year. There are leaves and dirty and who knows what else in the rock. What's the easiest way to clean this out and make sure there are not phosphates lingering in the rock? Just throw it in a trash can with salt water and a pump to move the water for a few months?

06/25/2018, 11:51 AM	#3
Vadafallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 974	rock No, don't think so. Been mostly sitting on the concrete i think. But i hear ya on being chancy. Its so pretty though lol. I won't be setting up a new tank for probably 3-6 months. I just moved so it will be a while. I am just getting all my eggs in the basket before i start.

06/25/2018, 12:00 PM	#4
Skittlz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Florida Posts: 27	rock This is a great question. My fishtank guy just traded some store credit for some amazing live rock that someone brought in. He said he needed to clean it and cure it. i would say you need to essentially put it in salt and pump and start the cycle to cure it and monitor the levels and continue to do so until all the levels are optimal for about 3 months. Thats what he is doing.... anyone disagree?

06/25/2018, 02:31 PM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I had 80+ lbs of rock sitting in a bucket in my backyard with leaves/twigs/dirt/spiders/mosquito's,etc... I simply dumped it on my driveway and hit it with the powerwasher then let it dry in the sun.....and into the new tank it went.. If you are concerned about phosphates then put them into a curing tank and check if for phosphates every week or so and adapt as needed... If you aren't measuring phosphates then you can take it out of that tank and do whatever you want with it.. __________________ Who me?

06/25/2018, 11:29 AM	#2
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I don't know if I would take a chance with that. Has that location been treated with fertilizer or any weed/grass killer? Only 2 pieces, I would probably suck it up and by some more.

06/26/2018, 05:51 AM	#8
Vadafallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 974	Thanks folks