Acid bath for rock

[brett_schn]

Ok so I found this rock at this beachy area and I need to kill everything from it. I want to do an acid bath I think the acid u use starts with an M. How much would acid would I use for how much water. Thanks

 

[psirex]

1 gallon of Muriatic acid (aka Hydrochloric acid) to 5 gallons of water?

 

[brett_schn]

1 gallon of Muriatic acid (aka Hydrochloric acid) to 5 gallons of water?

I'm doing 1/4 for 1 gallon. 1gallon can go up to 30 gallons. I figured it out already

 

[Meccaman96]

Just mix a super high ratio of salt. And put a heater in it. And let it sit in the dark for a while.

 

[brett_schn]

Just mix a super high ratio of salt. And put a heater in it. And let it sit in the dark for a while.

I have 2 weeks before I need the rock other wise I would.

 

[Meccaman96]

I have 2 weeks before I need the rock other wise I would.

That's fine. Make it a super high ratio a power head and a heater at max heat. Salt and do a few water changes. When u get items at sea level it has oil and Contaminants that need to be rinsed out.

 

[brett_schn]

That's fine. Make it a super high ratio a power head and a heater at max heat. Salt and do a few water changes. When u get items at sea level it has oil and Contaminants that need to be rinsed out.

The reason I'm using a rock I found is because I want to save money. I'm a teenager and don't want to spend money on a power head when I can buy a few bucks worth of acid and kill everything in 30min

 

[Meccaman96]

The reason I'm using a rock I found is because I want to save money. I'm a teenager and don't want to spend money on a power head when I can buy a few bucks worth of acid and kill everything in 30min

Get used items on Craigslist and the forums. It's not a cheap hobby. But if you cut corners it could cost you in the long run. You will need a extra powerhead eventually.

 

[brett_schn]

Get used items on Craigslist and the forums. It's not a cheap hobby. But if you cut corners it could cost you in the long run. You will need a extra powerhead eventually.

I'm running a 10g tank so no I won't and also for my next tank im getting a full package used on Craigslist

 

[Jerm40]

Assuming this is live rock. Even after the acid bath the rock will still have organic matter inside it and on it. The rock will still need to be cured properly. You can do this during the cycle but you have a lot bigger chance of having algae issues. Nothing in this hobby happens quick (except hair algae)!!

 

[brett_schn]

Assuming this is live rock. Even after the acid bath the rock will still have organic matter inside it and on it. The rock will still need to be cured properly. You can do this during the cycle but you have a lot bigger chance of having algae issues. Nothing in this hobby happens quick (except hair algae)!!

Wait acid will just eat through it and leave almost nothing so I should be fine. This rock is going to be for a 1gallon pico reef jar for a first grade classroom.

 

[Elegance Coral]

The acid won't do much for organic matter. It dissolves calcium carbonate really well though.
An over night soak in a strong bleach/water solution will dissolve the organic matter.

 

[Jerm40]

Wait acid will just eat through it and leave almost nothing so I should be fine. This rock is going to be for a 1gallon pico reef jar for a first grade classroom.

Wrong!! The acid will remove the outer layer of the rock. It will kill everything, but the dead organics inside the rock will not be removed at all. Acid is used all the time but proper curing is required to leach out all the dead material (organics). Otherwise it will leach while in your new tank and you will have an algae problem. Especially in a tank that small!!

 

[brett_schn]

I'll just do the acid bath then bleach to dissolve organics