Rinse dry rock outside with hose?

[Chicago]

Ok so I pulled half my rock that was covered in turf algae. Let it dry out in back yard and had to power drill it with steel brush to scrape it off. Rock is dry and covered in dust eat. Three twenty gallon garbage cans garbage cans full. So I wa going to rinse in rodi water. But wondering has anyone done a pre wash with de chlorinated tap water then wash in rodi water. . .?

 

[StrikerKratos]

Personally, I'd be worried about other toxins such as copper, lead, prescription drugs, etc... absorbing into the rock from tap water.


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[Chicago]

My thoughts also. Maybe rainwater for a few days. Or just use rodi and be safe.

 

[JohnnyHildo]

i try to keep any non-RO water out of my tank whenever possible. metals, chemicals and phosphates are the reasons why.
if i had to rinse my rock with tap water then i would soak it all in RO water right after to dilute anything that could be holding within the rock.

 

[billdogg]

If it were mine, I would just power wash it all to remove any organic material and then use it. The panic that seems to arise from what is actually very slight trace amounts of potential contaminates (if any) kinda cracks me up. By the time you get done curing it so that it is ready for use it (any contaminate) will be at such a dilute amount as to be undetectable.

jm.02

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'm 100% with billdogg.

Wash the rock with any kind of water you want. Even soak it in vinegar or acid. But before I put it back in a tank, I'd soak it in some new saltwater in a clean container for a few days. If you are really concerned, you could test water parameters before adding the rocks and then after soaking them to see if there are any 'real' issues.

The idea of any serious contaminates like copper, lead and drugs being added to your rock from washing it with a garden hose is laughable IMHO.

 

[Chicago]

was not really worried about metals.. more about the huge amount of phosphate the municipalities add to the water.. must say after weeks in the sun the rock is looking better.. on the turf algae I did have to take a power drill with wire brush attachment and use that to remove the dry out turf.. wow this stuff is tuff.. like taking paint of iron yard furniture..

 

[johnike]

Take it to the car wash and use the spotless rinse, it's RO water.

 

[Chicago]

that's great.. if it were only true..

 

[bigfruits]

id rinse with tap, and then soak in RO

 

[johnike]

that's great.. if it were only true..

It actually is. I know a guy that installs/services them.

 

[BlackTip]

I powered wash my rocks outside, and never used RO/DI water to rinse it. Also, I always wash and clean my equipment in tap water. Tap water suppose to be safe for human consumption. The notion that rocks and equipment will be contaminated from just touching tap water is just funny.

 

[juniorrocketdad]

Tap water really isn't that bad for your tank it just has a small amount of phosphates in it so it is bad for top offs and water changes but small amounts are no problem at all

 

[uvijaya]

Ok so I pulled half my rock that was covered in turf algae. Let it dry out in back yard and had to power drill it with steel brush to scrape it off. Rock is dry and covered in dust eat. Three twenty gallon garbage cans garbage cans full. So I wa going to rinse in rodi water. But wondering has anyone done a pre wash with de chlorinated tap water then wash in rodi water. . .?

Like everyone said, dont take the risk, you spent enough time taking the rocks out and drying. Better use the RODI water only.

 

[Timfish]

. . . The panic that seems to arise from what is actually very slight trace amounts of potential contaminates (if any) kinda cracks me up . . .
jm.02

+1

I use a lot of local limestone and just rinse it off with a hose. I would never use muratic acid to give it an acid bath