Cleaning dry rock

[FearTheTerps]

I have about 200 pounds of live rock that I want to get cycled but I'm just not sure how to go about it. Most of the rock came out of a holding tank that I had set up but I let the tank "run dry". After having the rock in there for a few months with a powerhead and heater I unplugged everything and just let the tank sit, eventually most of the water had evaporated and Im sure without any water movement the water got pretty nasty. About 1/3 of the rock came out of a Fish Only tank that had some hair algae problems. I took that tank down when I moved recently and now the rock is dry along with the hair algae. So needless to say the rock is pretty dirty and Im wondering what would be the best course of action to get it back into shape.

 

The few options Ive come up with.

1) Cook the rock - I dont think this is best cuz the only thing really bad was the hair aglae, no other infestations to worry about

2) Acid wash - Ive heard of several people doing this, not sure how effective it really is versus other methods

3) Bleach - To kill the hair aglae, which is my biggest concern - Im worried it will spread to everything if let go

4) Just let it go - I wont have a new set up for months so I have plenty of time to cycle the rock in the stocktank I have

 

And before anyone asks, I dont plan on selling any of it. I thought about it alot recently since Im unemployed at the moment, but the rock I have is really nice in regard to shape and size. Would be hard to replace in the future especialy the larger pieces.

[CHUBAKAH]

 

4) Just let it go - I wont have a new set up for months so I have plenty of time to cycle the rock in the stocktank I have

 

I would wash it in fresh water, scrub it with a new food brush to remove as much debris as you can, and choose option 4.

 

 

 

[Coral Hind]

I'd do option four too. Take it outside, hose it off, and scrub it clean with a new stiff brush.

[SkiCurtis]

what happens if he just puts it outside in the back yard and let the sun beat on it for months,is that like cooked live rock.

[thewire]

If I were you...I will soak it in boiling water freshwater then let it sit dry in the sun for weeks

[FearTheTerps]

The rock is already dry, so i see no reason to sit it out in the sun. My biggest concern is the dried hair aglae, I'm afraid of it taking over the tank during the cycled. I've had a bad case of it before so I'm trying to avoid the inevitable.