Sun dried live rock

[MJT82]

Hey folks... So I had a piece of LR in my tank for a while that was COVERED neusance algae for a while which I removed it from my tank and sat it in the sun for about 3-4 months... Everything that was on it is long ago dead and gone now, so my question is, should I do anything to it preparation/cleaning wise before I put it back in my tank?

 

[CSoli921]

I would put a little bleach in water and soak it. Then let it fully air dry, all the bleach goes away.

 

[MJT82]

Hmm... I was hoping to avoid having to use chemicals... Anyone else got any input?

 

[CSoli921]

I wouldnt think of it as a chemical, because it completely evaporates. If you used anything else like soap, there could be a residue. I've used bleach on my rocks and had no ill effects.

 

[OwenInAZ]

Sodium hypochlorite is still a chemical, whether or not it evaporates.

If it's been out in the sun for a few months and you don't want to use chemicals, soak it in fresh water for a bit, scrub the dead stuff off with a bristle brush and you're off to the races.

 

[Pattylucylaura]

I'm with OwenInAz on this one I have done it that way a few tmes and had no ill effects. I usually spray it with a hose or if you want go to a car wash and use the pressure hose to try and get any crud that may be on the inside, rinse in a tub of water let dry again and should be good to go.

 

[Crawf71]

I just bleached a batch of byropsis infested LR. Just rinse well and its all fine.

But if its dried, take a power washer to it and a metal brush to get off any thing you can.

 

[darkdruid]

If nothing else, just boil it for a little while. Everything will come off.

 

[cdbias2]

I've heard of aptasia coming back like that. I also think the algae spores are still there.
Fresh water will kill most if not all SW things. But if you'd like, the key to useing bleach is complete drying after treatment. The bleach only dissapates after it dries.
There will also be alot of dead organisms on that rock that need to be cleaned off. You dont want to end up feeding other algae by adding those nutrients to your water.

 

[barrettrhoades]

I say just rinse it off, or soak it in water for a couple days. Then take a good brush to it to get all of the dead stuff off.

 

[Your Ad Here]

i absolutely recommend against taking to a car wash and spraying it off. it takes sooo long for the waterlines at a car wash to clear out of all the soap in them, if ever.



:thumbdown on the carwash

Chris

 

[Hop]

Just soak it overnight in 1:1 water/vinegar. It will help take care of the dead matter locked up in the rock and help with the po4 issue that was obviously part of the reason that you took the rock out to begin with. Then rinse it in RO water.

I'm not a fan of bleach, power washing etc... this is the best method

 

[MJT82]

Thanks for all of the input guys!