Cooking Dry Rock - Vinegar Question

[chatyak]

Picked up new dry rock for a new look :bounce3:

I had it in a rubbermaid bin for a few days with a water/vinegar mix. After that, I let each piece soak in 100% vinegar for about 5-10 minutes. They were bubbling etc.... Now I have had the rocks soaking in 100% RO/DI water for a week with a powerhead.

Just wanted to ask:

1) If most phosphates should be gone from rock (eco-rock).

2) If vinegar should be gone from rock.


Safe to start aquascaping?


Will be removing about 1/3 to 1/2 of live rock from system and replacing with this, then waiting a few weeks and doing the other side of tank. I also run a RDSB with live rock in there.

 

[anderson0196]

You don't need to worry about the vinegar if you give them a good rinse.

As for phos....only way to know is to test. Some will leach longer/more than others...I don't have any experience with this specific rock.

 

[chatyak]

I was hoping not to buy a test kit to only test the dry rock once. In the tank it's easier - if you have algae etc... you have phosphates I've heard people saying no phosphates after a vinegar rinse, but I understand when you say a test-confirmation is only true way to know..

 

[anderson0196]

I soaked my dry rock in RODI for a week with large water changes daily.... At that point I had no phos.

I had done my rockscape prior to soaking so I didn't use any vinegar for fear it would eat away too much rock

 

[chatyak]

I soaked my dry rock in RODI for a week with large water changes daily.... At that point I had no phos.

I had done my rockscape prior to soaking so I didn't use any vinegar for fear it would eat away too much rock

It didn't eat much away at all, just a thin sliver of film if that. Ok, good to know.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that a rinse is all that's needed. The treatment might have removed a contaminated surface layer, but the rock still might have a significant amount of phosphate. If you're worried, you could try a RO/DI bath, and check the phosphate level after a soak.

 

[chatyak]

I agree that a rinse is all that's needed. The treatment might have removed a contaminated surface layer, but the rock still might have a significant amount of phosphate. If you're worried, you could try a RO/DI bath, and check the phosphate level after a soak.

I have had it in ro/di for over a week, since the first week of vinegar. I didn't want to, but I ended up buying the hanna phosphate meter kit.

 

[chatyak]

Are you able to test for phosphates with RO/DI water? Or must it be saltwater?

 

[anderson0196]

You can test either

 

[bertoni]

It depends on the kit, but most will work for salt or fresh water. The Hanna Phosphorus ULR is the only one of which I'm aware that isn't rated for fresh water.

 

[anderson0196]

I didn't know that about the Checker...Thanks

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! I was surprised by the news that it wasn't rated for fresh water. I'm not sure what the issue is.

 

[chatyak]

It depends on the kit, but most will work for salt or fresh water. The Hanna Phosphorus ULR is the only one of which I'm aware that isn't rated for fresh water.

Is that the same kit from BRS? I don't see anything mentioned about ULR on it. It says Phosphate on it, unless I am confusing something here.

 

[anderson0196]

The phosphorus tests at lower levels (ppb) whereas the phosphate tests in ppm.

I think that BRS offers both.

 

[bertoni]

Hanna offers three colorimeters for phosphorus and phosphate measurement. There's a Phosphorus ULR Checker that reads in ppb, as stated. It's a tad more accurate at the low end, if the product description is accurate. That's the one that Hanna doesn't rate for saltwater usage, at least according to one support call. Here's a link:

http://www.hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=037006&ProdCode=HI 736

 

[chatyak]

I am on my third 20 gallon bin of clean ro/di and the water is STILL cloudy with the rocks in it. This is crazy. First a vinegar/water bath - then straight vinegar - then then 20 gallon bin of ro/di with water changed out 3 times - and I just checked on the rocks and the water is so cloudy, you can barely see down in the bin.

Should I wait until the water stays perfectly clear?

I also contacted Hanna - they told me the product at BRS works with RO/DI.

 

[anderson0196]

I would....if it's cloudy in the bin it will be cloudy in your DT

 

[Telaverus]

I am on my third 20 gallon bin of clean ro/di and the water is STILL cloudy with the rocks in it. This is crazy. First a vinegar/water bath - then straight vinegar - then then 20 gallon bin of ro/di with water changed out 3 times - and I just checked on the rocks and the water is so cloudy, you can barely see down in the bin.

Should I wait until the water stays perfectly clear?

I also contacted Hanna - they told me the product at BRS works with RO/DI.

I just did similar to you with 40lbs of dry rock. I kept changing the ro/di until it was clear. I think it took about 3 full water changes over about a weeks time.

I was starting to think it wasn't going to clear up but it did. I had a heater going at 80F and a pump for circulation. Come to think of it, I emptied the bucket and cleaned all the crap out each time. Basically switching between two buckets/bins.

 

[chatyak]

That's what I have - though no heater. I have a big koralia pump in there, just with Ro/DI water. Everytime I change the water - I empty the rocks from the bin - do a dunk and swish - clean out the bottom of the bin, and then put the rocks back in and fill with water.

 

[Telaverus]

That's what I have - though no heater. I have a big koralia pump in there, just with Ro/DI water. Everytime I change the water - I empty the rocks from the bin - do a dunk and swish - clean out the bottom of the bin, and then put the rocks back in and fill with water.

You should be almost there. I did the last change, went back in a couple of days and was surprised it was clear. Yours may be taking a little longer as it appears that you were a little more aggresive with the vinegar than me.

One thing I would do is dry brush the rock once it's dried out again before you aquascape. I used a little more epoxy than needed as a result of the surface being a little loose in some spots.