Used Rock Cleanup

BradMugs · 12/05/2011, 08:38 PM

My son is moving his existing tank into a new larger tank. Some of the live rock is covered with algae and glass anemones. He hates to just throw the rock away - its expensive. How can he treat it to clean it for his new tank?

briankmarsh1980 · 12/05/2011, 09:16 PM

Take it out and scrub it good
set it out side in a dry place and let it completely dry out
Scrub again
(Optinal) give a vinigar bath (clear distilled ) 1 gal to 25 RO let soak for up to 1hr BUT NO LONGER or it will break down the calcium carbonate. This will pull out phosphates.
rinse again
Cycle the rock in a rubbermaid tub before putting it in the DT unless you are cycling the DT as well you can do it all at once.

tkeracer619 · 12/05/2011, 10:03 PM

Bleach will remove all organic material.

1/2 cup plain bleach per 5g water for 24h. Scrub and redo it if there is anything left.

Dry completely and then use the "cooking" method with some good live rock to cure the now base rock before re-using it.

thegrun · 12/05/2011, 10:23 PM

or store it in a bucket of salt water (in the dark) for a month with water flow and a heater.

BradMugs · 12/05/2011, 11:21 PM

great answers have a small problem with Brian's if I set it outside it won't dry out - it will freeze right now but not dry out *^) we were about 8 degrees above before the sun went down. Who knows where we are right now....

briankmarsh1980 · 12/06/2011, 01:57 AM

that will work to the freeze will kill all algae as well

let the rock freeze then follow my steps

fishgate · 12/06/2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradMugs

we were about 8 degrees above before the sun went down. Who knows where we are right now....

I'll guess Colorado, maybe Aurora?

RubberFrog · 12/06/2011, 08:22 AM

Freezing could very well cause porous rock to crack. It doesn't have to be outside the house to dry out. Stick it in a dry rubbermaid container and put it in the back of a closet or shove it under the bed.

briankmarsh1980 · 12/07/2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberFrog

Freezing could very well cause porous rock to crack. It doesn't have to be outside the house to dry out. Stick it in a dry rubbermaid container and put it in the back of a closet or shove it under the bed.

That may get a little stinky

tkeracer619 · 12/07/2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Bleach will remove all organic material.

1/2 cup plain bleach per 5g water for 24h. Scrub and redo it if there is anything left.

Dry completely and then use the "cooking" method with some good live rock to cure the now base rock before re-using it.

No stink here.

rogermccray · 12/08/2011, 09:41 AM

bleach it and rinse it out and then rinse it again and rinse it one more time, will be clean in no time. I did this on a rock of mine and put it in a new tank the next day.

12/05/2011, 08:38 PM	#1
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Used Rock Cleanup My son is moving his existing tank into a new larger tank. Some of the live rock is covered with algae and glass anemones. He hates to just throw the rock away - its expensive. How can he treat it to clean it for his new tank?

12/05/2011, 09:16 PM	#2
briankmarsh1980 I'm a member of **!!!!!! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maricopa, Arizona Posts: 2,127	Take it out and scrub it good set it out side in a dry place and let it completely dry out Scrub again (Optinal) give a vinigar bath (clear distilled ) 1 gal to 25 RO let soak for up to 1hr BUT NO LONGER or it will break down the calcium carbonate. This will pull out phosphates. rinse again Cycle the rock in a rubbermaid tub before putting it in the DT unless you are cycling the DT as well you can do it all at once. __________________ My skim don't stink _______________________________________________________________ 210 gallons with stuff!!!!!!! Last edited by briankmarsh1980; 12/05/2011 at 09:18 PM. Reason: haven't learned to spell yet

12/05/2011, 10:03 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Bleach will remove all organic material. 1/2 cup plain bleach per 5g water for 24h. Scrub and redo it if there is anything left. Dry completely and then use the "cooking" method with some good live rock to cure the now base rock before re-using it. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/06/2011, 01:57 AM	#6
briankmarsh1980 I'm a member of **!!!!!! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maricopa, Arizona Posts: 2,127	that will work to the freeze will kill all algae as well let the rock freeze then follow my steps __________________ My skim don't stink _______________________________________________________________ 210 gallons with stuff!!!!!!!

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12/05/2011, 10:23 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	or store it in a bucket of salt water (in the dark) for a month with water flow and a heater.

12/05/2011, 11:21 PM	#5
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	great answers have a small problem with Brian's if I set it outside it won't dry out - it will freeze right now but not dry out *^) we were about 8 degrees above before the sun went down. Who knows where we are right now....

12/06/2011, 08:22 AM	#8
RubberFrog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 286	Freezing could very well cause porous rock to crack. It doesn't have to be outside the house to dry out. Stick it in a dry rubbermaid container and put it in the back of a closet or shove it under the bed.

12/08/2011, 09:41 AM	#11
rogermccray Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,050	bleach it and rinse it out and then rinse it again and rinse it one more time, will be clean in no time. I did this on a rock of mine and put it in a new tank the next day.