Killing Live Rock

skyfireblaze · 04/10/2008, 10:10 AM

I recently removed some live rock from my tank. I figured the hydroids on (in?) the rock gave me a good excuse to redo my aquascaping. Anyways, someday I'd like to be able to reuse the rock without the risk of the hydroids or any other "nasties" coming back.

Can I completely kill the rock so that nothing more lives and won't return when it makes it back into saltwater? I don't really care about having to recure/reseed the rock in the future. I just want clean rock!

Just leave it out in the sun to dry for a few days? Literally cook it in the oven (I know this isn't the usual cooking you see being done to LR

)?

Thanks for your help ...

leoskee · 04/10/2008, 10:17 AM

I ended up with hydroids and I could not stand them. I completely disassembled my tank and set up a smaller tank just for my fish. I let the rock dry in my basement. I systematically took each rock and scraped the dried hydroids off with a wire brush and then put the rock into rubbermaid containers to dry. A month ago I put the rock in a tank. I seeded the rock with 50 lbs of uncured rock. So far everything looks really good.

This approach all depends on how much patience you have and how quickly you want to reuse the live rock. If time is not an issue you can go my route. If your in a hurry I heard that eventually the hydroids die off. I just wasnt willing to take the chance of this not happening in my tank.

Good luck.

skyfireblaze · 04/10/2008, 10:35 AM

I can't stand hydroids either. A year ago I used a gas backpacking stove to torch some rocks that had a few hydroids on it. I was moving my tank so it wasn't too much trouble. I don't know if I missed some or if it just didn't work, but hydroids lived on and multiplied in my tank. I finally just couldn't look at them anymore, so the rock came out. I've still got a few in another rock, but I'm trying some kalk paste on them to see if that'll kill them.

Note: kalk paste and RBTA's don't mix well ...

Anyways, I'm not in any hurry to use the rock again (6 months, 1 year, it's all good ...). I just don't necessarily want to have to throw it away. Will just letting the rock dry out completely really kill off all life in the rock?

I'm becoming a believer in base rock - let it seed on it's own ...

Hop · 04/10/2008, 10:41 AM

Just put it on the back porch. It will be dead soon enough

I would cook and reseed it before using it again, but it will be fine. I've done this countless times, although just now started believing in cooking it before using it again. I can't believe the crud that came off during the cooking process

MThompson · 04/10/2008, 10:57 AM

I would put them in bleach solution for a few days, then freshwater for a few days with 100% water change every day. The rock will be completely dead, and a pristine white. This will also cut down on the stench of a pile of rotting rocks in your house or on your porch.

04/10/2008, 10:10 AM	#1
skyfireblaze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 754	Killing Live Rock I recently removed some live rock from my tank. I figured the hydroids on (in?) the rock gave me a good excuse to redo my aquascaping. Anyways, someday I'd like to be able to reuse the rock without the risk of the hydroids or any other "nasties" coming back. Can I *completely kill* the rock so that nothing more lives and won't return when it makes it back into saltwater? I don't really care about having to recure/reseed the rock in the future. I just want clean rock! Just leave it out in the sun to dry for a few days? Literally cook it in the oven (I know this isn't the usual cooking you see being done to LR )? Thanks for your help ... __________________ Jon Current Tank Info: 37g (24"x18"x21") - Eheim 1250 Return Pump - Deltec AP600 Skimmer - 250w MH & 2x24w T5 (Maristar) - 2 MaxiJet 1200's (for now) - Tunze Osmolator ATO

04/10/2008, 10:17 AM	#2
leoskee Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NJ/NY Posts: 371	I ended up with hydroids and I could not stand them. I completely disassembled my tank and set up a smaller tank just for my fish. I let the rock dry in my basement. I systematically took each rock and scraped the dried hydroids off with a wire brush and then put the rock into rubbermaid containers to dry. A month ago I put the rock in a tank. I seeded the rock with 50 lbs of uncured rock. So far everything looks really good. This approach all depends on how much patience you have and how quickly you want to reuse the live rock. If time is not an issue you can go my route. If your in a hurry I heard that eventually the hydroids die off. I just wasnt willing to take the chance of this not happening in my tank. Good luck. __________________ ~Little Fish in a Big Pond~

04/10/2008, 10:35 AM	#3
skyfireblaze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 754	I can't stand hydroids either. A year ago I used a gas backpacking stove to torch some rocks that had a few hydroids on it. I was moving my tank so it wasn't too much trouble. I don't know if I missed some or if it just didn't work, but hydroids lived on and multiplied in my tank. I finally just couldn't look at them anymore, so the rock came out. I've still got a few in another rock, but I'm trying some kalk paste on them to see if that'll kill them. Note: kalk paste and RBTA's don't mix well ... Anyways, I'm not in any hurry to use the rock again (6 months, 1 year, it's all good ...). I just don't necessarily want to have to throw it away. Will just letting the rock dry out completely really kill off all life in the rock? I'm becoming a believer in base rock - let it seed on it's own ... __________________ Jon Current Tank Info: 37g (24"x18"x21") - Eheim 1250 Return Pump - Deltec AP600 Skimmer - 250w MH & 2x24w T5 (Maristar) - 2 MaxiJet 1200's (for now) - Tunze Osmolator ATO

04/10/2008, 10:41 AM	#4
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Just put it on the back porch. It will be dead soon enough I would cook and reseed it before using it again, but it will be fine. I've done this countless times, although just now started believing in cooking it before using it again. I can't believe the crud that came off during the cooking process __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

04/10/2008, 10:57 AM	#5
MThompson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pine Bluff, AR Posts: 142	I would put them in bleach solution for a few days, then freshwater for a few days with 100% water change every day. The rock will be completely dead, and a pristine white. This will also cut down on the stench of a pile of rotting rocks in your house or on your porch. __________________ MT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1 Current Tank Info: 120gal w/ 29gal sump/fuge