how to kill live rock - Page 2

jrenoe1 · 09/14/2008, 08:43 AM

Well, I believe you...but I still think I will avoid the bleach thing. It just seems so caustic. Anything that can melt my skin seems extreme for use around a reef.

chucksta1 · 09/14/2008, 08:56 PM

Chlorine is an unstable molecule.. That's why cyanuric acid is added to it as a stabilizing agent when it's made into pucks for swimming pools. If you leave chlorinated water open to air, it drops to zero within 48 hours. A bleach bath is safe. If you're still worried, rinse it off and let it sit in tapwater for a couple of days.

Boil it?? for small stuff, I just toss it into the microwave.

gguertin · 09/14/2008, 09:52 PM

Ok... So if I bleach 50lbs of rock and already have 150 in my 125 how long do I need to wait to put it in my sump... I would imagine my tank will handle any cycling from the new rock?

When I am done bleeching it what is the best way to clean the rock? Just a few water changes? maybe a carbon filter?

spleen93 · 09/14/2008, 10:08 PM

Leave it outside air drying for a few days after the bleach. It'll help blow off the chlorine. I'd rinse it in freshwater after that and then into the tank!

gguertin · 09/15/2008, 08:33 AM

sweet!

Bud's Reef · 09/15/2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrenoe1
Well, I believe you...but I still think I will avoid the bleach thing. It just seems so caustic. Anything that can melt my skin seems extreme for use around a reef.

Since he has his answer hopefully he won't mind going off topic a little. I used to have a house that got it's water from a pond in my front yard. There was a big filter on the intake in the pond to keep critters out and when it came into the house it went to a standard 12" filter and then I added regular household bleach to a container that added it to the water. It then went through a filter that had carbon and two other components that I don't remember. So the point is if we can drink water that had diluted household bleach added to it, it won't be harmful if left to dry for a few days just as others have said.

gguertin · 09/15/2008, 10:05 AM

Thats a good point actually...

last little question... what type of bleech has anyone used? I have to admit I dont know much about bleech... I cant just use laundry detergent can I? Does it need to be the powder stuff?

RicksReefs · 09/15/2008, 10:10 AM

no powders no fragrances, nuthin but chlorox regular liquid. the cheap brands will have iron in them.

hottuna · 09/15/2008, 11:32 AM

if safety is not an issue : 1 qt muriatic acid to about 15 gals water...soak it briefly...then completely flush with fresh water ....

RicksReefs · 09/15/2008, 01:04 PM

I hesitate recommending muriatic for carbonate rock. the potential for accidents (because safety is an issue) resulting from the unexpected amount of fumes released or the alka selzter like reaction from dipping carbonates in acid, etc. could freak out those not familiar with it's use and cause an even bigger issue.
it's easier and safer to just oxidize the organics off/out of the rock using chlorine. the cycle is minimal because the cause of the cycle has been burned off already.

gguertin · 09/26/2008, 04:32 PM

alright so I bleeched my rock for a few days and for have rinsed the rock atleast 5 times in a rubbermaid container...

Im concerned because everything still smells like bleech? I used a small bottle of bleech mixed with 15 gallons or so of water in a container... is this not correct?

The smell is getting better but it is still there how will I know when the rock is safe to go back in the tank?

areze · 09/26/2008, 05:11 PM

I cooked my rock.

literally
boiling water for 15min. followed with a pressure washer.

it was coated in algea before, manual removal before cooking, pressure after, and gave it time in the summer sun after. the rock came out pure white, and its in my new tank with no algea problems (knocks a hole in the desk)

RicksReefs · 09/26/2008, 06:01 PM

gguertin, all you need to do now is put the rocks in the sun for a day or two. the smell will go away. as a final step (mostly to ease the mind) after the air dry, you can soak them in some ro water and some commercial chlorine remover/water conditioner to remove any trace.

RicksReefs · 09/26/2008, 06:03 PM

I wouldn't cook rock literally. some of the potential things on the rock could kill/hurt you as it's cooked and aerosolized.

gguertin · 09/26/2008, 06:06 PM

ok I live in an apartment so just laying it in the sun isnt really an option...

I can let it dry in a bucket I suppose but its been in water for the last few days... Will soaking it in water not work?

I could just let it dry in a rubbermaid for a few days?

reef2 · 09/26/2008, 06:15 PM

just let it dry out. doesnt matter if its outside or not. any bleach left will evaporate once it dries.

RicksReefs · 09/26/2008, 06:21 PM

sorry, I didn't realize you couldn't get to the sun. sunlight destabilizes chlorine and burns it off cleaner.
you may have used more chlorine than you needed but no biggie. soaking it and changing out the water will work but you should use the chlorine remover to speed it up. I wouldn't recommend air drying in the apartment unless you like the smell of chlorine and some of your metal fixtures turning green...

I also recommend not soaking it in tap water as it could absorb any nasties in it (metals, phosphates, etc).

09/14/2008, 08:43 AM	#26
jrenoe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 44	Well, I believe you...but I still think I will avoid the bleach thing. It just seems so caustic. Anything that can melt my skin seems extreme for use around a reef. __________________ JR Current Tank Info: 20L Nano \| 150 HQI + 2x Atinics + moons \| 2 rotating PHs + surface skimmer filter + protein skimmer \| DSB + LR \| weekly 15% h20 changes

09/14/2008, 10:08 PM	#29
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	Leave it outside air drying for a few days after the bleach. It'll help blow off the chlorine. I'd rinse it in freshwater after that and then into the tank! __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet

09/15/2008, 11:32 AM	#34
hottuna Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,248	if safety is not an issue : 1 qt muriatic acid to about 15 gals water...soak it briefly...then completely flush with fresh water .... __________________ HotTuna

09/26/2008, 05:11 PM	#37
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	I cooked my rock. literally boiling water for 15min. followed with a pressure washer. it was coated in algea before, manual removal before cooking, pressure after, and gave it time in the summer sun after. the rock came out pure white, and its in my new tank with no algea problems (knocks a hole in the desk) __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

09/14/2008, 08:56 PM	#27
chucksta1 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: mississauga ont. Posts: 490	Chlorine is an unstable molecule.. That's why cyanuric acid is added to it as a stabilizing agent when it's made into pucks for swimming pools. If you leave chlorinated water open to air, it drops to zero within 48 hours. A bleach bath is safe. If you're still worried, rinse it off and let it sit in tapwater for a couple of days. Boil it?? for small stuff, I just toss it into the microwave.

09/14/2008, 09:52 PM	#28
gguertin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 766	Ok... So if I bleach 50lbs of rock and already have 150 in my 125 how long do I need to wait to put it in my sump... I would imagine my tank will handle any cycling from the new rock? When I am done bleeching it what is the best way to clean the rock? Just a few water changes? maybe a carbon filter?

09/15/2008, 08:33 AM	#30
gguertin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 766	sweet!

09/15/2008, 10:05 AM	#32
gguertin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 766	Thats a good point actually... last little question... what type of bleech has anyone used? I have to admit I dont know much about bleech... I cant just use laundry detergent can I? Does it need to be the powder stuff?

09/15/2008, 10:10 AM	#33
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	no powders no fragrances, nuthin but chlorox regular liquid. the cheap brands will have iron in them.

09/15/2008, 01:04 PM	#35
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	I hesitate recommending muriatic for carbonate rock. the potential for accidents (because safety is an issue) resulting from the unexpected amount of fumes released or the alka selzter like reaction from dipping carbonates in acid, etc. could freak out those not familiar with it's use and cause an even bigger issue. it's easier and safer to just oxidize the organics off/out of the rock using chlorine. the cycle is minimal because the cause of the cycle has been burned off already.

09/26/2008, 04:32 PM	#36
gguertin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 766	alright so I bleeched my rock for a few days and for have rinsed the rock atleast 5 times in a rubbermaid container... Im concerned because everything still smells like bleech? I used a small bottle of bleech mixed with 15 gallons or so of water in a container... is this not correct? The smell is getting better but it is still there how will I know when the rock is safe to go back in the tank?

09/26/2008, 06:01 PM	#38
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	gguertin, all you need to do now is put the rocks in the sun for a day or two. the smell will go away. as a final step (mostly to ease the mind) after the air dry, you can soak them in some ro water and some commercial chlorine remover/water conditioner to remove any trace.

09/26/2008, 06:03 PM	#39
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	I wouldn't cook rock literally. some of the potential things on the rock could kill/hurt you as it's cooked and aerosolized.

09/26/2008, 06:06 PM	#40
gguertin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 766	ok I live in an apartment so just laying it in the sun isnt really an option... I can let it dry in a bucket I suppose but its been in water for the last few days... Will soaking it in water not work? I could just let it dry in a rubbermaid for a few days?

09/26/2008, 06:15 PM	#41
reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 639	just let it dry out. doesnt matter if its outside or not. any bleach left will evaporate once it dries.

09/26/2008, 06:21 PM	#42
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	sorry, I didn't realize you couldn't get to the sun. sunlight destabilizes chlorine and burns it off cleaner. you may have used more chlorine than you needed but no biggie. soaking it and changing out the water will work but you should use the chlorine remover to speed it up. I wouldn't recommend air drying in the apartment unless you like the smell of chlorine and some of your metal fixtures turning green... I also recommend not soaking it in tap water as it could absorb any nasties in it (metals, phosphates, etc).