How to Clean new Live Rock

benihana · 03/06/2007, 07:48 AM

I just purchased 45lbs of Fiji LR from Foster Smith, and it will be here on Sat. I have been reading a lot about what needs to be done, but can not find anything specific about how to "scrub" off the dead stuff. I have a new tank with no inhabitants yet, so I was planning on curing it in the tank. I have 2 power heads (one 300 pgh & one 600gph) that I will be using for circulation, and a 3" sand bed.

Can someone please tell me if I should be "scrubbing" it? Or should I let it run its course? Should I do a Freshwater dip, or a high salinity dip? If so, how long should I keep each piece submerged? I assume there will be "stuff" that will come off the rock, should I remove it from the tank, or should I leave it in there?

I guess I have a lot of unanswered questions. Any help is greatly appriciated

Thanks
Ben

davidryder · 03/06/2007, 07:54 AM

It's really up to you, especially since you don't have anything in the tank yet. I just got 50lbs of live rock yesterday. I LIGHTLY scrubbed it with a bristle brush (toothbrush) and rinsed it off in a tub of salt water I mixed up just for that.

benihana · 03/06/2007, 09:27 AM

bump

hansmatt · 03/06/2007, 02:44 PM

I've not bought rock for quite a while, but I used a turkey baster & powerhead to loosen debris & suck it out. Get out the major chunks, change the water every week or so (not all of it) and skim the tar out of the curing rock. I didn't scrub much except for really thick /very dead material, in order to keep as much life as possible.

DrBegalke · 03/06/2007, 10:07 PM

i wouldn't scrub it, i would just let it cycle in the tank

shellshocked · 03/06/2007, 10:32 PM

Ditto the advice of hansmatt.

03/06/2007, 07:48 AM	#1
benihana Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Prior Lake, Minnesota Posts: 1,230	How to Clean new Live Rock I just purchased 45lbs of Fiji LR from Foster Smith, and it will be here on Sat. I have been reading a lot about what needs to be done, but can not find anything specific about how to "scrub" off the dead stuff. I have a new tank with no inhabitants yet, so I was planning on curing it in the tank. I have 2 power heads (one 300 pgh & one 600gph) that I will be using for circulation, and a 3" sand bed. Can someone please tell me if I should be "scrubbing" it? Or should I let it run its course? Should I do a Freshwater dip, or a high salinity dip? If so, how long should I keep each piece submerged? I assume there will be "stuff" that will come off the rock, should I remove it from the tank, or should I leave it in there? I guess I have a lot of unanswered questions. Any help is greatly appriciated Thanks Ben __________________ Currently tankless, but have a few things in the works

03/06/2007, 07:54 AM	#2
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	It's really up to you, especially since you don't have anything in the tank yet. I just got 50lbs of live rock yesterday. I LIGHTLY scrubbed it with a bristle brush (toothbrush) and rinsed it off in a tub of salt water I mixed up just for that. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

03/06/2007, 09:27 AM	#3
benihana Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Prior Lake, Minnesota Posts: 1,230	bump __________________ Currently tankless, but have a few things in the works

03/06/2007, 10:07 PM	#5
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	i wouldn't scrub it, i would just let it cycle in the tank __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

03/06/2007, 02:44 PM	#4
hansmatt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Western Wisconsin Posts: 681	I've not bought rock for quite a while, but I used a turkey baster & powerhead to loosen debris & suck it out. Get out the major chunks, change the water every week or so (not all of it) and skim the tar out of the curing rock. I didn't scrub much except for really thick /very dead material, in order to keep as much life as possible.

03/06/2007, 10:32 PM	#6
shellshocked Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 151	Ditto the advice of hansmatt.