Bleaching live rocks?

HUNTER1 · 07/10/2013, 03:04 PM

I have my aiptasia infested live rocks soaking in 10-1 bleach solution for 6 hours now. Is this enough soaking time to kill the aiptasia? thanks

Deberber · 07/10/2013, 08:08 PM

I never tried bleaching live rock because that kills off all the useful things on it. Peppermint shrimp kill the apstasia just fine. But to your question, since the "live rock" is now dead, I would imagine so.

bnumair · 07/10/2013, 08:23 PM

leave it over night just to be sure. then rinse and dry for couple of days. remember to scrub while rinsing.

Silly clownfish · 07/11/2013, 11:07 AM

Hunter,

I have never used bleach on rocks (yes, it is now dead rock), but certainly understand getting that frustrated! To kill undesirables, I have taken rock out and sat it in the sun for a few days, or years. Since you have used bleach, the chlorine breaks down faster in sunlight, so I suggest a heavy rinse with tap water and leave it in the sun for a few days, then scrub and rinse again.

One other note on leaving it out in the sun, depending on the wildlife where you live- when I have left rock out overnight, something (probably raccoon) tried to steal some of it. This was rock that had not been bleached though and probably smelled of dead something. I found pieces scattered across the yard, with the heaviest pieces moving least.

Kim

HUNTER1 · 07/11/2013, 03:50 PM

I soaked them for 24 hours in bleach and now soaking in freshwater with prime and will let it dry out in the sun for a week. I live in las Vegas and it's 100 degrees, perfect for this project.

bnumair · 07/11/2013, 04:51 PM

that will do it.

HUNTER1 · 07/11/2013, 05:06 PM

I had to tear my tank down because of aiptasia infestation, reason for bleaching all the rocks. I ignored the couple of aiptasia not knowing they'll be hundreds in such a short time. I know my tank is going to get them again one way or another, I'll keep them in check or get couple of peppermint shrimp right away.

07/10/2013, 03:04 PM	#1
HUNTER1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,044	Bleaching live rocks? I have my aiptasia infested live rocks soaking in 10-1 bleach solution for 6 hours now. Is this enough soaking time to kill the aiptasia? thanks

07/10/2013, 08:23 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	leave it over night just to be sure. then rinse and dry for couple of days. remember to scrub while rinsing. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/11/2013, 04:51 PM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	that will do it. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

07/10/2013, 08:08 PM	#2
Deberber Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: North Carolina Posts: 451	I never tried bleaching live rock because that kills off all the useful things on it. Peppermint shrimp kill the apstasia just fine. But to your question, since the "live rock" is now dead, I would imagine so.

07/11/2013, 11:07 AM	#4
Silly clownfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 488	Hunter, I have never used bleach on rocks (yes, it is now dead rock), but certainly understand getting that frustrated! To kill undesirables, I have taken rock out and sat it in the sun for a few days, or years. Since you have used bleach, the chlorine breaks down faster in sunlight, so I suggest a heavy rinse with tap water and leave it in the sun for a few days, then scrub and rinse again. One other note on leaving it out in the sun, depending on the wildlife where you live- when I have left rock out overnight, something (probably raccoon) tried to steal some of it. This was rock that had not been bleached though and probably smelled of dead something. I found pieces scattered across the yard, with the heaviest pieces moving least. Kim

07/11/2013, 03:50 PM	#5
HUNTER1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,044	I soaked them for 24 hours in bleach and now soaking in freshwater with prime and will let it dry out in the sun for a week. I live in las Vegas and it's 100 degrees, perfect for this project.

07/11/2013, 05:06 PM	#7
HUNTER1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,044	I had to tear my tank down because of aiptasia infestation, reason for bleaching all the rocks. I ignored the couple of aiptasia not knowing they'll be hundreds in such a short time. I know my tank is going to get them again one way or another, I'll keep them in check or get couple of peppermint shrimp right away.