nbgen12 July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 Topic pretty much says it....like several others im still without power and needless to say things didn't go well. I was originally going to transfer everything from my 55 to my new 75, but after this im planning on just starting fresh with new sand and rock after drying the old stuff. What is the best way to get my used live rock cleaned up for the next tank after I dry it? Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
icecool2 July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 There are a lot of methods: * Cooking in a tub in the dark with just a heater and powerhead. Occassional water changes. * Muriatic acid cleaning * Vinegar cleaning
hlem July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 Why not just do a 100% water change and let it cycle again? It should still be some what alive.
icecool2 July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 ^-- That's a good point. Did you have any nutrient problems or nuisance algae before the crash?
nbgen12 July 2, 2012 Author July 2, 2012 No nutrient or algae problem at all. The thing is, I would actually like to use dry rock so I can spend a good bit of time designing my aquascape. I know it would take less time just using the existing stuff, but I rushed into everything on my 55 and want to make everything perfect in my new 75. Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
nbgen12 July 2, 2012 Author July 2, 2012 Could someone clarify what "cooking" the rock actually means? I find it a little confusing since I assume it has nothing to do with an oven hahs Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
bill stine July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 not sure if you want to go this extreme but this is what I was taught several years ago. Recipe I was taught for nuking (cleaning) Live Rock 1. Soak rock in 50/50 Bleach and water solution for 3 days. 2. Soak rock for next 3 days in RO water if possible but tap is ok 3. Soak rock in RO/DI water and Baking soda for 3 days to neutralize the bleach. For a 30g trash can I use 4 lbs. of Baking soda. 4. Let rock sit outside in sun for 2 weeks turning the rock to make sure all water is out of holes. If cold out side I have put in my garage with a fan on the rock for about 1.5 weeks and still turn rock every day. Last couple times I nuked rock I was not ready to add to tank when I was complete so I mixed some SW and added the rock with some PH's and heat to kick start a cycle until I was ready to add to the tank. This will ensure you are not adding anything in your tank that you don't want, just like getting base rock. It will become live rock once it is seeded. hope that helps
hlem July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 If you want to aquascape as dry rock, then I would just go ahead and dry it up, no need to do anything else. Once you've done with it in the new 75, then cycle it as fresh base dry rock.
surf&turf July 2, 2012 July 2, 2012 Why not just do a 100% water change and let it cycle again? It should still be some what alive. You will be surprised what comes back. I still have corals coming back from my last crash.
Steve175 July 3, 2012 July 3, 2012 I have drilled, epoxied, and zip tied LR. You can leave it out of water for relatively long periods of time (it often spends more than a week just in wet newspaper when shipped initially) when you are ready to 'scape the new tank. As above, I would do a large water change and let the rock cycle in your current tank (or in a vat) with a heater, a powerhead and no light (which is what cooking the rock is). If you let it recycle and keep it live, you will save yourself a couple of months with a new cycle in the new tank. I am pretty sure than muriatic or acetic acid would dissolve some of it (much good LR has coral skeletons within it).
Coral Hind July 3, 2012 July 3, 2012 I just hose it off to remove any loose stuff and put it in the tank. I've never done anything special to it.
Sharkey18 July 3, 2012 July 3, 2012 Do what Coral Hind says. Then if you want to do more, set it outside in the sun for a few days.
zygote2k July 3, 2012 July 3, 2012 I just hose it off to remove any loose stuff and put it in the tank. I've never done anything special to it. This is probably the best, non-paranoid way to reuse live rock. If you're really concerned, a good drying in the sun for a few days will kill anything.
zygote2k July 4, 2012 July 4, 2012 FWIW, I've taken rock that was used in fish-only tanks which may or may not have been treated with various meds/copper/etc that had been left outside for years on a shelf, hosed off the bugs/dirt/leaves and started 3 reef tanks with last year. No apparent issues so far.
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