recuring rock, "cooking?" ---ed. sk8r: note: does not mean heating!!!

[drillsar]

I am breaking down my tank and have around 60lbs of rock with brown crusted stuff on rock. I am wondering should I just keep it in buckets in the dark with no water. Suggestions?

 

[thegrun]

That would be a good idea. If you have had elevated phosphate or nitrate levels you might want to consider starting over by giving the rock an acid bath.

 

[vertigo01]

That would be a good idea. If you have had elevated phosphate or nitrate levels you might want to consider starting over by giving the rock an acid bath.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but wouldn't an acid bath ( Muriatic, Vinegar ) just eat away at the surface layer and not affect the internal areas where Phosphate may have leached into?

OP, what are your plans for the rock? Will you be using it in quick order for a rebuild or will you be storing it for a while?

 

[gone fishin]

FWIW when I moved my rock sat in totes dry for about 6 months. When I was ready to start back up I rinsed and scrubbed the rocks off a couple of times and let it sit on the deck to dry for a few days.

 

[thegrun]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but wouldn't an acid bath ( Muriatic, Vinegar ) just eat away at the surface layer and not affect the internal areas where Phosphate may have leached into?

The surface is where the phosphates and nitrates attach.

 

[drillsar]

can you bath it in vinegar solution or is it better to use a different approach? I heard the Muriatic bath is good but nasty stuff so I rather not do that.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Bleach water works well.

 

[LQT]

Do a 24 hour bleach bath (10% solution) to kill off everything followed by a good rinsing, then a soak in a bucket of RO water over night. Then a 100% vinegar bath for no more than an hour... about 45 minutes should do. The first time I did it , I soaked for 3 hours and that was too much. It made the rock very crumbly, with bits flaking off everywhere. Then another rinse and a few soaks in RO water. Use a powerhead to circulate everything in your bucket or container for each part of the process. I chose the vinegar method cause it's winter and cold outside. I was able to do the vinegar method in the house. Also, I didn't want to deal with the poisonous fumes when using the acid.

 

[drillsar]

I can just use RO/DI with some bleach than a vinegar bath correct? After that rinse with RO/DI water again.