Bleaching rock?

[samanthameeks]

Hey guys (and gals)--

Brandon gave me his green bubble algae covered rock, and I am looking to doctor it. So, I have been reading about bleaching rock.

This is the most straight-forward recommend I've got:

Soak the rock in a 50/50 bleach and water solution for about 2 days. Drain the soaking container then soak the rock in clean fresh water for 2 days. Drain the container again, rinse the rock in fresh water and soak again it in fresh water again for another 2 days. Then add a 2lb box of baking soda per 15 gallons of water and soak the rock again for 3-4 days. Drain the container then soak again in fresh water for a day then remove the rock and let it sit and dry for 3-4 days (The baking soda soak is to neturalize the acid and low P.H from the bleach).

Whatcha think?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[NeveSSL]

Sounds like a plan to me, Stan.

Speaking of such, I need to change the water that my rocks are in...

Brandon

 

[Mikeyjer]

That sounds like a lot of work to me. I just sit mine out in the sun and let it bake. It kills off everything on it. I had to do that when one of my rock was covered with some sort of tough grass like algae that was not easy to scrape off. So I let it sit out for a month. I used the rock with no problem. No algae growing back.

 

[Mobikob]

I would bake them in the sun, then flake off what you could. And then bleach them for a few days. I have heard of people putting them in toilet tanks to flush the leaching out after bleaching them, but never tried it.
I have had success with cooking LR in the past, although it wasn't as severe as what you are facing.

Good luck!

 

[orthokardia]

anyone ever microwave a rock?

 

[sal-t-dawg]

I used a 25gl rubbermaid tub, RO water, and about half a bottle of bleach. Let it sit for 24hrs, rinse the individual peaces of rock with water and let it sit in the sun for at least 24hrs. I used this rock in my 75gl and never had any algae or pest issues.

 

[samanthameeks]

These are some good ideas. Thus far, I have let it sit outside in a rubbermaid bin. All of the algae has dried out fairy well. Thinking I may do the 24 hr. water and half a gallon of bleach soak, give them all a good rinse, then let them bake in the sun for few days.

Thanks all!

 

[Jason S]

I would let it soak in bleach and water for 24 hours, Dechlorinate the water heavily, let it sit for a few more hours with circulation, then rinse it well, and let it bake in the sun.

I always use dechlor when I bleach anything to be safe.

 

[Pickupman66]

I was just going to say dose a ton of Prime Declorinator. That is what I use when I bleached my purigen. Works great for getting the bleach out.

 

[fowlr2reef?]

all above options seem viable. u already starting tank up pickupman66? sweet.

 

[Pickupman66]

Man I wish I could get it started up. Ive got my rock sitting behind the house just waiting for a new glass box. It will be 6 months for me I guess. going to plumb it all under the house and have sump and all eqpt in garage so just the display is in side.

 

[NeveSSL]

Nice, Lindsey. I'm hoping to do that one day, too.

Brandon