Dead "live" rock: acid or not?

emcmilla · 01/19/2015, 02:30 PM

Hello,

So, I am wondering what to do with some dead live rock that I had from a previous setup. The (now dead rock) had been sitting in an unplugged freezer chest in an unheated garage for a little over a year. I want to add the rock to my established tank.
I have done a lot of researching (here, and elsewhere on the Internet) and have come across varying opinions on the best way to prepare and cure rock.
Some say use saltwater, others say freshwater is fine since the rock is dead. So far, I have the rock sitting in 2 5G pails w/ powerheads to keep water circulating. I have emptied the buckets several times. The other day I added some bleach fresh water and added the rocks.
What I am wondering is, in your experience, would you also use a muriatic bath?
Some say it's unnecessary. BTW, when the live rock was in my old tank, I believe it had some atipasia on it.
Any opinions or insight would be great!

Thanks!

cody6766 · 01/19/2015, 03:12 PM

I bleached some rock and had issue with algae when I set up the tank. I set up another tank with bleached and acid washed rock and had very little algae troubles with dry rock from the same source. Some of this rock had severe algae issues before it was dried, some none at all.

emcmilla · 01/19/2015, 03:18 PM

thanks for your input!

maybe the acid bath is the way to go

tkeracer619 · 01/19/2015, 03:52 PM

Algae won't come from bleach. I would only acid bath if the rock was high in phosphates and i was in a hurry. Otherwise i would cure in saltwater and deal with phosphates if needed with lanthinum chloride.

emcmilla · 01/19/2015, 04:06 PM

tkeracer619: you have a 8200ish Gallon tank! Wow that must be awesome! As for the rock, have you ever done an acid bath? Are there any disadvantages other than some of the rock dissolves and it can weaken the rock?

Thanks

tkeracer619 · 01/19/2015, 04:15 PM

Those gallons represent the systems i have owned, constructed, and or maintained over the years. I used to maintain and setup tanks professionally with aquatic art before starting my engineering career.

Acid is dangerous and rocks are heavy. Those two attributes can be dangerous. If you have the time i would look up lanthinum chloride treatment.

The rock might not even need anything more than curing but rock that was once live probably has nutrient issues.

jonwright · 01/20/2015, 02:59 PM

If you've got time just let 'em hang out in the bucket. Personally I wouldn't mess with acid if I didn't have a really big reason.

I understand bleach will take care of the algae that's on the rock - however - if it's leaching phosphate it might indirectly create algae again.

Soak in water and change the water every couple of weeks. If there is phosphate it will leach into the water in the bucket just as it would if in a display tank. Then just keep doing it until your new tank is ready.

If you already have the lanthinum drop some in - you'll know if there's phosphate for it to absorb. But changing the water will have the same effect, really.

emcmilla · 01/21/2015, 09:29 PM

Just an update: I did the acid bath on the rocks. Now they are "curing" in saltwater with high flow powerhead and I will add a piece of live rock to start seeding.

Thanks everyone for the input

01/19/2015, 02:30 PM	#1
emcmilla Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 254	Dead "live" rock: acid or not? Hello, So, I am wondering what to do with some dead live rock that I had from a previous setup. The (now dead rock) had been sitting in an unplugged freezer chest in an unheated garage for a little over a year. I want to add the rock to my established tank. I have done a lot of researching (here, and elsewhere on the Internet) and have come across varying opinions on the best way to prepare and cure rock. Some say use saltwater, others say freshwater is fine since the rock is dead. So far, I have the rock sitting in 2 5G pails w/ powerheads to keep water circulating. I have emptied the buckets several times. The other day I added some bleach fresh water and added the rocks. What I am wondering is, in your experience, would you also use a muriatic bath? Some say it's unnecessary. BTW, when the live rock was in my old tank, I believe it had some atipasia on it. Any opinions or insight would be great! Thanks! __________________ 150G reef tank home to 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 magnificent foxface, and 2 cleaner shrimp. Current Tank Info: 150G reef tank

01/19/2015, 03:12 PM	#2
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	I bleached some rock and had issue with algae when I set up the tank. I set up another tank with bleached and acid washed rock and had very little algae troubles with dry rock from the same source. Some of this rock had severe algae issues before it was dried, some none at all. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

01/19/2015, 03:18 PM	#3
emcmilla Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 254	thanks for your input! maybe the acid bath is the way to go __________________ 150G reef tank home to 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 magnificent foxface, and 2 cleaner shrimp. Current Tank Info: 150G reef tank

01/19/2015, 03:52 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Algae won't come from bleach. I would only acid bath if the rock was high in phosphates and i was in a hurry. Otherwise i would cure in saltwater and deal with phosphates if needed with lanthinum chloride. __________________ 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.

01/19/2015, 04:06 PM	#5
emcmilla Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 254	tkeracer619: you have a 8200ish Gallon tank! Wow that must be awesome! As for the rock, have you ever done an acid bath? Are there any disadvantages other than some of the rock dissolves and it can weaken the rock? Thanks __________________ 150G reef tank home to 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 magnificent foxface, and 2 cleaner shrimp. Current Tank Info: 150G reef tank

01/19/2015, 04:15 PM	#6
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Those gallons represent the systems i have owned, constructed, and or maintained over the years. I used to maintain and setup tanks professionally with aquatic art before starting my engineering career. Acid is dangerous and rocks are heavy. Those two attributes can be dangerous. If you have the time i would look up lanthinum chloride treatment. The rock might not even need anything more than curing but rock that was once live probably has nutrient issues. __________________ 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.

01/20/2015, 02:59 PM	#7
jonwright Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 658	If you've got time just let 'em hang out in the bucket. Personally I wouldn't mess with acid if I didn't have a really big reason. I understand bleach will take care of the algae that's on the rock - however - if it's leaching phosphate it might indirectly create algae again. Soak in water and change the water every couple of weeks. If there is phosphate it will leach into the water in the bucket just as it would if in a display tank. Then just keep doing it until your new tank is ready. If you already have the lanthinum drop some in - you'll know if there's phosphate for it to absorb. But changing the water will have the same effect, really.

01/21/2015, 09:29 PM	#8
emcmilla Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 254	Just an update: I did the acid bath on the rocks. Now they are "curing" in saltwater with high flow powerhead and I will add a piece of live rock to start seeding. Thanks everyone for the input __________________ 150G reef tank home to 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 magnificent foxface, and 2 cleaner shrimp. Current Tank Info: 150G reef tank