Killing live rock

[mrcoffee2]

Hey R2R,

Do you guys think this rock is ready to go into my new DT? I have had it outside for about a month now. This is what i have done to it so far.

1) Added it to a 50g bucket of water then poured 8 gallons of bleach on it and let it sit for 3 days.
2) Rinsed it off then filled the bucket up again with fresh water and let it sit for 3 days.
3) Let it sit in the sun for the next 2-3 weeks with bi weekly spray offs with the hose.

This is how it looks now. I thought it would be completely white by now. Do you think this is good to use yet?

 

[vic67]

Is your DT running already or are you cycling the rocks with the tank?

 

[mrcoffee2]

i'll be cycling with the tank. It is currently running now with just live sand and a couple lbs of LR.

 

[vic67]

I would throw it in the tank and let it cycle with everything else.

 

[Vucious]

I think we are fine. I actually just finished cleaning rocks and cycling. Instead of bleach, this is what I did.

1. Muratic acid for 1 day
2. Rinse and soak in FW for 1 day
3. Vinegar bath for 2 days
4. Rinse and soak in FW for 3 days
5. Let is dry for 2 weeks

I had to do extra step of using vinegar because these rocks were filthy.

 

[mrcoffee2]

Do you see that brown stuff on the rock in the 2nd picture? looks like taffy taffy. Should I be digging that stuff out with a knife? or will it be fine to leave on the rock?

 

[mainereefer]

it is a sponge it will rot in the tank so I would clean as much of it off as I could

 

[mrcoffee2]

it is a sponge it will rot in the tank so I would clean as much of it off as I could

Thats what I thought. I figured 1 month out of water would cause all this stuff to dry up. I am glad I checked before dumping it into my tank.