Soaking live rock in Muriatic Acid

[woodycb]

Is this ok to do to kill everything on the rock. How long do you soak it for and what is the proper rinsing technic for this.

 

[RokleM]

Chemistry forum would be your best bet.

I did it recently. I just let it sit for 15-30 minutes (if it takes too long, add more acid), and rinsed thoroughly with water.

 

[LISound]

when the bubbles stop the acid has been nutrulized by the carbonate in the rock and no further reaction will take place.
what are you trying to do with this method?

 

[woodycb]

I want to kill everything with no chance of any unwanted things growing back from it. Start fresh with a clean base rock

 

[Zestay]

bleach works just as well.
make a bleach bath. pretty much as strong as you want it. i did 2 gallons to 20 gallons of water.
soaked for 3 days with a strong return pump ( 1200 gph ) blasting away



rinsed for 3 days
did lots of water changes
soaked in amquel dechlorinator
etc rinsed more..
rinsed more
now i have pure white rocks that store well

 

[woodycb]

I went with the bleach method, Im on day 3 of soaking. I found a couple threads on it and decided to go that route and see how it works. Just trying to rid a bubble algae problem.

 

[tonyespinoza]

man... bubble algae is tough. it shows up even in very low nutrient tanks... predation helps, i've found some rabbit fish and emerald crabs do keep it in check. (also helps if we act as predators... tho it's a lot of work!)