Cleaning Artificial Coral - HELP!!!

reefer0714 · 01/08/2014, 06:40 PM

Someone told me to use non-chlorinated bleach to clean my artificial coral. I took it out of my tank, submerged it in a bucket of 100% bleach for 1 minute, then cleaned and rinsed it in my driveway. I dipped them in a clean bucket of freshwater to rinse the insides out, and rinsed again with the hose. I believe I got all of the bleach off.

After putting the coral back in the tank, I did a 20% water change at the same time. A few days later I noticed my Blue Spotted Puffer was gasping at the surface, swimming backwards slowly and acting sick. He died the next day.

Now my other fish are acting weird. I tested the water: PH is around 7.8-8.0(lower than normal for me), Amonia is 0, Nitrites are 0, and Nitrates are around 40-60ppm.

Should I have not used 100% bleach? Did I contaminate my water? What should I do to get the bleach out, if it is in the water?!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

brian2kgt · 01/08/2014, 09:22 PM

Sorry I don't know exactly what your problem is but if you think there might be bleach in your tank you can add a tap water dechlorinator to neutralize it. It wouldn't hurt to try.

syrinx · 01/08/2014, 09:42 PM

Perhaps the mistake is non chlorinated bleach. You should use regular clorox unscented or its generic equal. After bleaching, the coral is rinsed well, and then submerged in a bucket of clean water that has large amount of decholrinator added. It also can be allowed to sun dry- once there is no odor of chlorine, you are good to go.

syrinx · 01/08/2014, 09:43 PM

And to answer the question about 100% bleach- usually a half cup to a 3/4 full 5 gallon bucket is enough.

brian2kgt · 01/08/2014, 10:32 PM

Oh, I missed the part where it was non-chlorinated bleach that was used. Disregard my statement about dechlorinator in the tank. What brand is it and what are the ingredients listed on the bottle?

reefer0714 · 01/08/2014, 10:55 PM

The brand is "bright Green". It is biodegradable and non-toxic. I am 99% sure I rinsed it good enough though, and after drying in the sun, it didn't smell like bleach at all. Next time I will definitely mix it with water and go lighter with the concentration. Thanks for the advise!

nlgill13 · 01/08/2014, 10:59 PM

You could also try vinegar to clean the artificial coral, that won't have an affect on the tank if some residual gets in

reefer0714 · 01/09/2014, 12:23 AM

OK, I will try vinegar next time! That sounds more natural and less crucial to the water environment. Thanks!

billdogg · 01/09/2014, 06:43 AM

My 60g cube was set up using "fake" corals in 1992. I finally upgraded this last summer to a 120g and 100% real coral. In that time it never took anything more than a toothbrush or kitchen scrub brush to clean off the fake ones. I'm not too sure why you would go that route to begin with.

In any case, as mentioned above, unscented regular bleach should be used whenever you think it is actually needed. Rinse it a couple times or allow to dry - either way you should be fine.

j tavares · 01/09/2014, 06:26 PM

warm water w white vinegar works well w a little elbow grease and good to go

01/08/2014, 06:40 PM	#1
reefer0714 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 15	Cleaning Artificial Coral - HELP!!! Someone told me to use non-chlorinated bleach to clean my artificial coral. I took it out of my tank, submerged it in a bucket of 100% bleach for 1 minute, then cleaned and rinsed it in my driveway. I dipped them in a clean bucket of freshwater to rinse the insides out, and rinsed again with the hose. I believe I got all of the bleach off. After putting the coral back in the tank, I did a 20% water change at the same time. A few days later I noticed my Blue Spotted Puffer was gasping at the surface, swimming backwards slowly and acting sick. He died the next day. Now my other fish are acting weird. I tested the water: PH is around 7.8-8.0(lower than normal for me), Amonia is 0, Nitrites are 0, and Nitrates are around 40-60ppm. Should I have not used 100% bleach? Did I contaminate my water? What should I do to get the bleach out, if it is in the water?! Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

01/08/2014, 09:42 PM	#3
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Perhaps the mistake is non chlorinated bleach. You should use regular clorox unscented or its generic equal. After bleaching, the coral is rinsed well, and then submerged in a bucket of clean water that has large amount of decholrinator added. It also can be allowed to sun dry- once there is no odor of chlorine, you are good to go. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

01/08/2014, 09:43 PM	#4
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	And to answer the question about 100% bleach- usually a half cup to a 3/4 full 5 gallon bucket is enough. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

01/09/2014, 06:43 AM	#9
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	My 60g cube was set up using "fake" corals in 1992. I finally upgraded this last summer to a 120g and 100% real coral. In that time it never took anything more than a toothbrush or kitchen scrub brush to clean off the fake ones. I'm not too sure why you would go that route to begin with. In any case, as mentioned above, unscented regular bleach should be used whenever you think it is actually needed. Rinse it a couple times or allow to dry - either way you should be fine. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/08/2014, 09:22 PM	#2
brian2kgt Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW Pennsylvania Posts: 93	Sorry I don't know exactly what your problem is but if you think there might be bleach in your tank you can add a tap water dechlorinator to neutralize it. It wouldn't hurt to try.

01/08/2014, 10:32 PM	#5
brian2kgt Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW Pennsylvania Posts: 93	Oh, I missed the part where it was non-chlorinated bleach that was used. Disregard my statement about dechlorinator in the tank. What brand is it and what are the ingredients listed on the bottle?

01/08/2014, 10:55 PM	#6
reefer0714 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 15	The brand is "bright Green". It is biodegradable and non-toxic. I am 99% sure I rinsed it good enough though, and after drying in the sun, it didn't smell like bleach at all. Next time I will definitely mix it with water and go lighter with the concentration. Thanks for the advise!

01/08/2014, 10:59 PM	#7
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	You could also try vinegar to clean the artificial coral, that won't have an affect on the tank if some residual gets in

01/09/2014, 12:23 AM	#8
reefer0714 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 15	OK, I will try vinegar next time! That sounds more natural and less crucial to the water environment. Thanks!

01/09/2014, 06:26 PM	#10
j tavares Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,157	warm water w white vinegar works well w a little elbow grease and good to go