Dead rock ?

[Lowredranger]

I ordered some marco rock so i can easily aquascape my new tank and i was wondering the best way to clean it. I saw on another thread that i cannot find any more that the guy was using 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Any help would be great; length of time it need to soak, how many times do i need to do it and last do i clean it in tap water, RO water or RODI water.

Thanks
Jason

 

[donk228]

I soaked my marco rocks in a rubbermaid tub for a little less than two weeks in RO water, changing the water every other day. The first few days the water was surprisingly gross, apparently there were a lot of critters being re-hydrated and rotting away. At the midway point, I took the rocks out and blasted them off with a garden hose. I think my rocks could have soaked for longer, but I was starting from scratch with no worry about an ammonia spike. I can't comment about the vinegar, it never occurred to me at the time.

 

[Lowredranger]

Ok thanks for the info, do you think it would be ok to soak them in regular tap water for most of the duration and then soak them 1 or 2 last times in RO? That will save a lot of time and water.
Thanks

 

[dugg]

If you use tap water< you will be soaking the rock in all kinds of minerals and chemicals that are not good. ( floride, clorine, ect.) If you are on a well and have low TDS it would be ok, but city tap water, i wouldn't do myself. Rock is like a spounge for chemicals.

 

[Lowredranger]

ahh ok thanks that was what i was wondering.
Thanks
Jason

 

[MitchReef]

Hey Jason,

I just got a new membrane and di fill on my system. You're welcome to come get rodi any time you want, just give me a call before you come by each time. I cannot support the extra use of carrying your tank, but I would be certainly okay with you getting the water for doing your rock right. You will be really glad you did. Give me a PM with your number.

Mitch

 

[Lowredranger]

Hey thanks Mitch, I have a RODI unit. I was just wondering if it wasn't necessary to use the RO water then i wouldn't waste it, but i will set up a big trash can with the rock. Do i need to have some powerheads in there or just let it soak and replace the water? And did anyone have any idea on using any chemicals (vinegar) i have no idea.
Thanks again
Jason

 

[MitchReef]

I would hold on the vinegar. You really need flow in the bucket, and I mean enough that it's penetrating into all the nooks ans crannies if possible, and if the rock is headed to a new tank you probably have a protein skimmer. If it's not being used someplace else it will go well in the rock once you put salt to it the first time.

It would also be a consideration to soak it in saltwater with some seed rock or sand and let it start turning that old death into more bacterial flourish. Dunno if that's a common practice with this stuff or not. Of course also, it's going to be even more important to run a skimmer if you do that.

 

[Lowredranger]

Thanks for all the great info i think when the rock arrives i will go get a tub and put all the rock in there and i have a couple used vortech that i got for the new tank that i will hook up on full blast to get everything out. I unfourtunitley don't have a skimmer for the tank yet so so it may take a little longer or until i get a skimmer.

I will have to see on soaking it in SW just for the fact that i will need to verify it's position in the new tank and i figured when it was all setup i would throw what i have in my little refuge on the current tank into the fuge for the new tank and let it sit running for a couple months to get the pods and bacterial populations up.