Cleaning live rock for storage

Stolireef

Stolireef

Active member
We are about to embark on a major home remodel and I will be breaking down my tank. I really like my live rock pieces and want to store them. I think they need a thorough cleaning first (it should also help with the smell). Is there anything wrong with giving them a good powerwash with tap water and then letting them just dry out in the sun? I don't plan on using any types of detergents. I just want to get as much of the nutrients out of and off of the rock.

Any thoughts?
 
Any reason not to try and keep it "live". I would fill up a brute and just keep a powerhead in there...depending on how long it will be before you rebuild. May have some die off, but would avoid or reduce curing time in the future.

If you want it dry, it may be more effective to let it dry out/die off for a few days, then powerwash. It always seems like the rock cleans up better once it has dried up and died. I doubt the TDS from tap water would be an issue, and any that does get into the rock would probably leech out when you cure down the road.
 
Stoli why not buy a cheap smaller tank and store in that for the time being, may not necessarily need heavy water changes but would keep em semi-alive. I have a 50 gallon tank in my garage storing rock right now with a light, skimmer, and 1 cycling pump running. Even my Chaeto is in there being blocked in one area by live rock with a clip on light with a cree led 6500k bulb.
 
Just spray it off and let it dry. If you keep it in the garage thru the summer you will have a bad surprise when you lift that lid.
 
Thanks to all for the responses. My goal is to actually 'kill' the rock so that I don't have any nasty surprises when I restart the tank. In particular, I had a bad hair algae infestation. Looks like I get to play with the pressure washer over the weekend.

As far as cooking goes, I'm just going to lay it out on a sheet in an area that gets lots of sun. Considering where we live, by the end of the summer, it should be quite well done.
 
Hair algae is hair algae and you may still have an issue. I used dry rock when setting up my new tank and I have hair algae.
 
I use sodium percarbonate (dry form of H2O2) to clean my nylon filter socks. I used a piece of dry rock the one time to keep the sock from floating. The rock was discolored having been used in a tank before. It came out white as if it was bleached. H2O2 is a strong oxidizing agent that will destroy organic material and it breaks down into water and oxygen module radical. Sodium percarbonate will also have a little soda ash. The dry form allows you to make it as strong as want. Use gloves it is a lot stronger than the 3% hydrogen peroxide you buy at the stores. The solution will bubble for about 6 hours. Do not cover the container tightly, the oxygen needs to gas off into the air.
Sodium percarbonate is the base chemical in oxi-clean. I also use it as a cleaning agent around the house and laundry. I purchased 10lbs off of amazon for around $20. You only need 1-2 oz. in the laundry. I use 1/2 oz. with 2 quarts of water when I clean the nylon socks.
 
kjonulak said:
I use sodium percarbonate (dry form of H2O2) to clean my nylon filter socks. I used a piece of dry rock the one time to keep the sock from floating. The rock was discolored having been used in a tank before. It came out white as if it was bleached. H2O2 is a strong oxidizing agent that will destroy organic material and it breaks down into water and oxygen module radical. Sodium percarbonate will also have a little soda ash. The dry form allows you to make it as strong as want. Use gloves it is a lot stronger than the 3% hydrogen peroxide you buy at the stores. The solution will bubble for about 6 hours. Do not cover the container tightly, the oxygen needs to gas off into the air.
Sodium percarbonate is the base chemical in oxi-clean. I also use it as a cleaning agent around the house and laundry. I purchased 10lbs off of amazon for around $20. You only need 1-2 oz. in the laundry. I use 1/2 oz. with 2 quarts of water when I clean the nylon socks.
Click to expand...

So you think Oxyclean is OK on cleaning the rock. I can't see why it would be a problem and I have a bunch of it but I'm wondering if they adulterate it.
 
I'm not sure I would use Oxi-clean. That's why I got the sodium percarbonate. Oxi-clean has other stuff in it besides the sodium percarbonate.
 
Dude, sorry you're breaking down the tank (shamelessly wondering if you need someone to hold some of your corals for you?)

But more seriously, your plan is fine. Power wash it with no additives, bake it for a few weeks/months. You'll be fine. I'd turn the pieces once a week or something so they really bake. I remember one of the guys a few years ago did this, had no issues after, though it's probably gonna stink for a week or two.


edit: there was someone back in NY who put everything in a stream or something for a few months. I remember talking to Gary about it, that ring a bell? I think it went VERY poorly. Bake it. The summer sun here will basically obliterate anything bad if you give it a little time.
 
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