Live rock has been outside for 1 year....safe for an aquarium again?

cj_basser · 07/01/2012, 04:04 PM

I tore down my old reef and put about 20lbs of liverock outside that has been sitting outside for about a year. It is sun bleached and bone white. Would this rock be suitable for a 90gal FOWLR tank after a good boil?

bongarone · 07/01/2012, 04:10 PM

Bleach it, then cure it for a few weeks while checking for phosphates.

sirreal63 · 07/01/2012, 04:10 PM

A boiling would probably do no good at all and is dangerous An acid bath would remove anything bound to the outer layers.

cj_basser · 07/01/2012, 06:31 PM

How would I go about bleaching or doing an acid bath to it?

sirreal63 · 07/01/2012, 06:34 PM

Numerous ways, but I would probably skip the bleach and do an advanced search on acid bath.

Psirex · 07/01/2012, 07:15 PM

+1 on acid bath

James77 · 07/01/2012, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj_basser

How would I go about.... doing an acid bath to it?

Diluted muriatic acid, aka hydrochloric acid. It can be found sometimes in Home Depot, and any masonry vendor will carry it as it is used to wash brick. It can be nasty stuff; breathing its fumes, skin/eye contact are harmful....so please take appropriate safety measures.

I did it to some dry rock I had come in. Just fill a barrel or container with water and add the acid to the water. Not sure the ideal ratio, I forget mine(search in the chemistry froum or start a thread). Mine was pretty weak, I believe an eight of a gallon to 30 gallons, and even just a half an hour soak ate a noticeable amount off the rock.

07/01/2012, 04:04 PM	#1
cj_basser Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Westerville, Ohio Posts: 1,648	Live rock has been outside for 1 year....safe for an aquarium again? I tore down my old reef and put about 20lbs of liverock outside that has been sitting outside for about a year. It is sun bleached and bone white. Would this rock be suitable for a 90gal FOWLR tank after a good boil?

07/01/2012, 04:10 PM	#3
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	A boiling would probably do no good at all and is dangerous An acid bath would remove anything bound to the outer layers. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/01/2012, 06:34 PM	#5
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Numerous ways, but I would probably skip the bleach and do an advanced search on acid bath. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/01/2012, 07:15 PM	#6
Psirex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,934	+1 on acid bath __________________ SALINITY NOW....

07/01/2012, 04:10 PM	#2
bongarone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 423	Bleach it, then cure it for a few weeks while checking for phosphates.

07/01/2012, 06:31 PM	#4
cj_basser Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Westerville, Ohio Posts: 1,648	How would I go about bleaching or doing an acid bath to it?