LR + Acid/base neutralization = good or bad

D

drclifton

New member
I have a large assortment of LR that was part of a tank that I would rather not have become my tank if I introduce this LR to my system. The tank it came from was in pretty bad shape and was rampant with aiptasia and algae. I would, however, like to use this rock and I was told to do the following:

Soak the rock in a 50/50 bleach and water bath for a few days

then rinse VERY WELL with freshwater

Then soak the rock in a bath of water and baking soda for a few days

Rinse again and then introduce the rock to my tank. I would use the rock I already have (3 pieces) to colonize the new stuff over time.

I just wanted to get your take on this procedure and see if any of you have had success/failure with it.
 
My preference will be to cook the rock. After a couple of months in total darkenss with biweekly water changes for the first month shall do.
 
what if the rock is now dead? I have a similar problem. I had live rock that was given to me but was covered in hair algea, etc. i just threw it in a tote and let it die and dry out.

I was thinking of using it again but don't want all the phosphates, etc.
I thought you could only cook live rock.

Would the above method work well for the dead stuff, like marco rock.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13629487#post13629487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LISound
what if the rock is now dead? I have a similar problem. I had live rock that was given to me but was covered in hair algea, etc. i just threw it in a tote and let it die and dry out.

I was thinking of using it again but don't want all the phosphates, etc.
I thought you could only cook live rock.

Would the above method work well for the dead stuff, like marco rock.
Click to expand...
Do not use bleach, Instead soak the rock in a 50/50 solution of RO/DI water and vinegar, the acid will clean the surface in addition of pulling the phosphates and other impurities out.
To reduce the cost, if it is a lot of rock you can use a solution of 10 to 1 RO/DI water to muriatic acid. The water will foam quite a bit and you will see that the foam is really dirty. Once the foaming stops the acid (or vinegar) has been consumed and you can rinse the rock well in RO/DI. Use a powerhead in the baths to increase the contact of the solution with the rock, allow for the acid to fully react with the rock surface and to blow the dirt away from the surfaces and pores.
If the rock is rinsed well there is no need for the baking soda bath but you can do it, it will help insure all acid has been neutralized.
 
is there any links to this or previous threads?

the acid alone will be enough to lift any bound up nutrients, phosphates in the rock?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13630861#post13630861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LISound
is there any links to this or previous threads?

the acid alone will be enough to lift any bound up nutrients, phosphates in the rock?
Click to expand...
Yes it will. Curing or cooking dead rock usually does not bork due to the lack of bacteria.
Let me see if I can find the link.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13630914#post13630914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
Yes it will. Curing or cooking dead rock usually does not bork due to the lack of bacteria.
Let me see if I can find the link.
Click to expand...

"bork" = idiomatic expression that means boring work :D

Sorry for the typo..
 
maybe that's why I've always had problems with my bigger pieces of rock. I tried cooking for months still to see HA pop up once the lights went back on.

I'm going to give the acid bath a shot on some pretty nasty rock.
some more insight might be helpful before i bath in acid. :)
 
Sorry I could not find the link.
Basically the acid reacts with organic phosphates to dissolve them into the solution. Because the rock is calcium carbonate, some of the surface layer of the rock will dissolve adding carbonates to the water until the acid is completely neutralized by the rock itself. The surface dissolution also removes some of the organic stuff attached to the rock surface.
Using 1 part acid in 10 part water will be OK, If you use more acid it will be OK but more of the rock will dissolve.
The bubbles you will see when submergin gthe rock in the solution will be liberated CO2 from the dissolution of the rock.
You can try with one rock to see if you like the result before bathing the whole batch.
 
Should i throw a power head in there too to keep things moving. I'm assuming there is going to be a lot of crap in the tote. swoosh, etc?
 
hi new to the site, i am in the process of acid bath as i type, seems to work quiet well, my question is i have a bqd algea prob now, and want to change out old rock for clean rock, tank was set up useing old dry rock and i blieve this to be cause of algae feed on the leaching phosphates, my ? is how much rock to change at one time i know not all but what %
 
you can get away with half but you'd have to wait until the rock you just bathed was well established with new bacterial growth to support your bioload. what live stock in in the tank now?
 
1 green/blue chromis,2 blue reef chromis, seabae clown, fridmani,snails about 20. 3blue leg hermit and 2 redleg and about 15 corals
 
I'm not sure how long dead rock will take to recolonize so you could then remove the other half of the rock. I would guess about a month to 6 weeks...but don't hold me to it. You might be able to do all the rock over the course of 6 weeks. every week removing just a few rock at a time for the acid bath so not to shock the system.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13644777#post13644777 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeflover28
thanks for the help will try the slow and easy method of a few at a time.
Click to expand...
The slower the better so patience will be needed.
 
Let's talk more about this as this method is new since I was last in the hobby. Or at least no one recommended it. Where can i get the acid.
I would assume you would need to do this outside, any fumes?

What is the proper ratios. Gallon of RODI to ? acid?

Plan to do this this weekend. I know Randy chimed in before, and still can't believe this will pull out all the po4.

how do you know when the rock is done?
 
You get the acid at home depot or a swiming pool chemicals store Imuriatic acid).
Mix 10 gallons of RO/DI for 1 gallon of acid. Add the acid to the water slowly, there will be fumes so doit outside or in the garage with the door opened, if possible wear a mask and gogles.
I is ready when the rock stops bubbling. Rinse it several times.
 
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