George Monnat Jr Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 About a week ago I removed four of my rocks from my DT that had bad dinoflagellates on them and stuck them on the back porch. They didn't have much on them as they were newer and in less light, so bleaching them was no big deal. I want to put them back in now to re-accumulate good bacteria, etc. but I don't know if the stuff that died on them will foul my water. I've seen various accounts of people using acids or other chemicals. Has anyone done this and can relate their experiences with Do's and/or Don't's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrickH Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 I bought 2gallons of vinegar from the dollar store and soaked my rock in it for about 2-3 minutes. Then rinsed with tap water and let sun bleach for a week. I wouldnt use anything like acid or bleach, Just vinegar. When you see what it does to live rock you will see what I mean. "Plop-plop....fizzz" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 +1 to what Derrick said. Harsh chemicals are not needed. Once the rock has dried out you can blast it with a garden hose to remove the majority, then let it soak in a bucket for a few days. Each night shake it vigorously and then let it sit again. Once the shaking ceases to release new material you should be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrickH Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 The vinegar really looks like acid at work lol. Some serious fizzing and bubbly mess on the surface. Sure makes the rock clean though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troypt Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Vinegar is a weak acid. Acetic acid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 What they said. (Actually I'm just trying to up my post count with this response. ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Who said weak acd? I am still lost in the sixtys. Patrick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+olaggie01 Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 The good thing with using vinegar is that it will penetrate all the nooks/crannies of the rock and force out some of the PO4 that has accumulated into the rock. The downside is that it is not that powerful of an acid to etch away some of the surface layers and get down to the bare rock like muratic acid will, but then again, muratic acid will eat your skin off. Might want to run the dead rock in a tub with a piece of LR for a couple of days afterwards so that you don't cycle your tank again with the introduction of dead organisms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 White Vinegar is your friend. I use it for cleaning everything, except my mixing barrel. Once a year i fill up the barrel and add a small amount of muractic acid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Monnat Jr Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share Posted May 25, 2012 Might want to run the dead rock in a tub with a piece of LR for a couple of days afterwards so that you don't cycle your tank again with the introduction of dead organisms. That's a good idea. I bought two gallon jugs of HEB 5% white vinegar last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpb Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Thats a stellar idea. I had two large pieces of dry rock for years. Decided to soak them for a week to see before I added them. Now 14 days later im rocking 2.5ppm ammonia in the tub from internal die off. Better to soak and test just to CONFIRM you wont have a cycle on your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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