Rock: Freezing Vs.Drying

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huckphinn894

New member
I am not doing this now but in the future when I upgrade, when receiving used rock from an unhealthy tank or someone I don't really know (craigslist), instead of letting it dry in the sun for a few months to kill everything evil before curing what about freezing each rock for at least 24 hours. this would kill everything 100% and a lot faster than waiting all summer right? and seeing as I would still need to cure it properly either way I was wondering what any of your ideas on this are. It also helps that I have a 500gal deep freeze to begin with.
 
You would be surprised what can survive the freezer. It won't be 100% like drying out will.

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one of my worries about mail ordered live rock is aptasia, mantis shrimp, and other big nastyness. I've had a two inch mean looking red crap come out of hiding once before from an internet store.
 
I personally like marco rock, it's super dry and a "natural" frag rack. I recently found a dead crab in there while breaking it apart.

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when i purchase infested rock at a great price for the same purpose, i baked it on the BBQ outside low and slow. got it nice and hot.
it was fast and worked great.
 
Gas right? Not charcoal. Better to say that before someone tries it.

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I recommend "cooking" the rock. Do a search on it if you need an explanation. Its a good way of ridding your rock of undesirables and still maintaining your bacteria, keeping your rock "live"
 
disc1 said:
Gas right? Not charcoal. Better to say that before someone tries it.

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Click to expand...

yes gas! and it needs to be done outside. as mentioned above it may be toxic so dont put it in the oven in the house, as some have done!
 
Ok, just to clarify my earlier post. When I say "cooking" the rock. I in no way mean heating the rock up with anything. "Cooking" to some, is placing the rock in a dark container with a heater and a power head for about 8 weeks, starving the pests for light and leaching the nitrates/phosphates out of the rock. Like I said, do a search for a better explanation.
 
redneckgearhead said:
Ok, just to clarify my earlier post. When I say "cooking" the rock. I in no way mean heating the rock up with anything. "Cooking" to some, is placing the rock in a dark container with a heater and a power head for about 8 weeks, starving the pests for light and leaching the nitrates/phosphates out of the rock. Like I said, do a search for a better explanation.
Click to expand...

yeah think everyone understands the concept of cooking the rock, but the topic is killing the rock by sunlight or freezing it.
 
I agree freezing will likely casue it to break.
Killing the rock with temperature and/or dryness, won't remove the dead organics which will breakdown when placed in tank water, nor inorganic nutrients like PO4 that may leach back, nor any free metals that may be stuck to it form prior exposure. A bath in a bleach solution followed by an acid bath will kill what's in the rock and breakdown and remove these pollutants.
 
I have used the bleach, rinse, rinse, acid, rinse, rinse rinse method.

It is fairly quick, removes all organics, kills everything, removes stored phos and nitrate.
 
What's wrong with a fresh water soak,hosing it off with the garden hose, and an RO/DI rinse ? Fresh water will kill the marine organisms, spray will remove detritus, and the RO/DI will bond with any stray compounds. A lot less radical than chemical, cooking or freezing solutions with fewer potential problems.

jmo,
 
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