Using Old live rock question.

hey i got a 5 gallon bucket of old bleched live rock from a buddy. i am upgrading my tank soon. i was wondering how i can prepair this old rock the best way to use in my new system.

ive heard of algae problems in old rock and just to use live rock but then there is un wanted hitch hickers in that sometimes. and itwould save me alot of money.

thanks!

 

bleach it or give it an acid wash, or both. For me, which has worked perfectly, I bleach 2.5 gals, 2.5 gals water for 3 days or more depending on how bad the algae is. Once i did it for two weeks but that was right from a 2 year old tank w/red bubble algae everything. twist bucket every so often.

dump, fill with ro for two days

dump, fill with ro for two days

dump, let dry (chlorine evaporates)

fill with RO and a ton of prime

dump, let dry

quick ro rinse and add slowly.

probably overkill but better safe than sorry.

some people even cycle after that, I haven't ever though.

 

RO and prime are unnecessary; chlorine will evaporate out of solution in less than 24 hours if solution is exposed to air.

If the rock has already been cleaned and bleached, place it in a bucket of fresh-mixed saltwater (using RO/DI) for a week with a powerhead. At the end of the week, test for nitrates and phosphates. If both come up zero, you're good to go. If not, an acid bath will be the quickest solution.

FWIW, I've used old rock plenty of times without even bleaching.

 

As mentioned, I have always gone by, "better safe than sorry".

I used RO because there are metals and other DS in tap water that you cant take out or neutralize with additives.

I agree that chlorine evaporates with air contact (mentioned in post) - I only added Prime because I thought to myself, "how long is this water really going to take to entirely evaporate from this rock, even the water deep in the crevasses?" I couldn't guarantee 100% evaporation without leaving it in the sun for a couple of days or maybe baking it, both were not options.

Nonetheless, I agree, you probably don't need Prime or RO, but after spending all that money and time, is it really worth it? and...I don't mean to toot my on horn, but I take the 'dont add nuances and you wont have them approach with every decision and have one of the cleanest looking tanks I have ever seen.