Bleach vs Acid
- Thread starter bheron
- Start date
bheron
Active member
Right, I remember discussing this a few months ago and went back to where Dkeller_nc stated....
"You are correct that bleach oxidizes organics, but the issue is that it oxidizes some organics. "
And he also discussed the use of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). I have some on hand and wondering if that will do the trick, and quicker?
"You are correct that bleach oxidizes organics, but the issue is that it oxidizes some organics. "
And he also discussed the use of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). I have some on hand and wondering if that will do the trick, and quicker?
Aquarist007
New member
And to requote Randy's answer
"What are you trying to accomplish?
To kill things, use bleach.
To remove copper or phosphate, use acid. "
Philly guy
New member
I'm no expert or chemist, but it seems to me that by using a garden hose and regular tap water to rinse everything off you added nutrients, etc. right back onto the rock. I just bleached and acid bathed my rock but after I finished with the acid I rinsed in fresh RO/DI water then let it dry.
Aquarist007
New member
Calcification of rock does not happen that quickly for a quick rinse to have any affect. Tao water can but is usually not that high in phosphates and or nitrates to make a difference
If it was live rock however depending on the temp and chlorine it could kill some bacteria
bheron
Active member
And to requote Randy's answer
"What are you trying to accomplish?
To kill things, use bleach.
To remove copper or phosphate, use acid. "
LOL, neither! Am trying to remove/dissolve waste the easiest and quickest way.
Yea, i see what you guys are saying. I think I'll just go that route.
I could see phosphate being added via the tap water but organics that would be causing nitrate?
So I think I will just swish these rocks in RODI and then put in another fresh batch of RODI and do water changes until nitrate = 0. And will use GFO to pull out the phosphate. And take my time
My end goal is not to start my tank again until I'm sure my live rock has zero nitrates and zero phosphates.
bheron
Active member
The nitrate would come from organic debris, assuming the water going into the tank is nitrate-free.
I'm using RODI. could nitrate be in my tap water and possibly making it through my RODI if the filters needed to be changed?
Aquarist007
New member
One of Randy's articles deals with this...he did the math and it is trivial
Jonathan perhaps you can post the link again?
It was a phosphate article, but the math is likely similar: the input of a small amount of nitrate in top off water is not likely a significant contributor to the overall nitrate level in a reef tank.
Aquarist007
New member
It was a phosphate article, but the math is likely similar: the input of a small amount of nitrate in top off water is not likely a significant contributor to the overall nitrate level in a reef tank.
This article really changed my thinking about what we are feeding in our tanks.
Thank you
bheron
Active member
OOooookay, so I learned a few things. No matter how much experience I gain I find I still make bonehead moves :hmm5:
So I learned this:
1) I was reading my low level nitrate test kit wrong. Where I thought the nitrate was 25ppm it's really 0.25ppm. oops.
2) after draining my holding tank where I was getting the 0.25ppm reading I did find two dead bugs (result of rinsing and drying my rocks outside). so, yea, there's some organic decay for you!
most importantly...
3) I decided to go back and test my RODI water, at each step of the way. Found 0.25ppm nitrate in my RODI holding tank. Hmmm. so tested the RODI output and, shocker, 0.25ppm coming out of my RODI! Geeze. Also tested my tap water and I think the nitrate was maybe 100ppm.
So in the end that was my problem. Did a long overdue change of my RODI filters and Nitrate = 0. Soaking rock overnight and will post test results tonight when I get home.
Thanks all.
So I learned this:
1) I was reading my low level nitrate test kit wrong. Where I thought the nitrate was 25ppm it's really 0.25ppm. oops.
2) after draining my holding tank where I was getting the 0.25ppm reading I did find two dead bugs (result of rinsing and drying my rocks outside). so, yea, there's some organic decay for you!
most importantly...
3) I decided to go back and test my RODI water, at each step of the way. Found 0.25ppm nitrate in my RODI holding tank. Hmmm. so tested the RODI output and, shocker, 0.25ppm coming out of my RODI! Geeze. Also tested my tap water and I think the nitrate was maybe 100ppm.
So in the end that was my problem. Did a long overdue change of my RODI filters and Nitrate = 0. Soaking rock overnight and will post test results tonight when I get home.
Thanks all.
