Bleach curing live rock question

[Twosixpax]

I recently bleach cured the rock from my aquarium which I had taken down for a move (and because I was suffering an unstoppable BTA infestation).

After a couple of weeks in a 1:10 bleach solution with wave makers and more than a week drying, most of the rock has these worms (I think) almost calcified into the rock surface. Anyone have any ideas how to remove? Anything which includes the word “toothbrush” won’t work - there’s 300lbs of rock..

Thanks!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Outside of their appearance, why would you want to banish them?

Other than brushing them off, I am not familiar with another way of removing them. That said, probably the fastest method would be to use a brush you can put on a 4" angle grinder or one that can be used on a drill. If you choose this method, though, you may end up changing the color of the rock wherever you brush it.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I recently bleach cured the rock from my aquarium which I had taken down for a move (and because I was suffering an unstoppable BTA infestation).

After a couple of weeks in a 1:10 bleach solution with wave makers and more than a week drying, most of the rock has these worms (I think) almost calcified into the rock surface. Anyone have any ideas how to remove? Anything which includes the word “toothbrush” won’t work - there’s 300lbs of rock..

Thanks!

Outside of their appearance, why would you want to banish them?

Other than brushing them off, I am not familiar with another way of removing them. That said, probably the fastest method would be to use a brush you can put on a 4" angle grinder or one that can be used on a drill. If you choose this method, though, you may end up changing the color of the rock wherever you brush it.

 

[Twosixpax]

Outside of their appearance, why would you want to banish them?

Other than brushing them off, I am not familiar with another way of removing them. That said, probably the fastest method would be to use a brush you can put on a 4" angle grinder or one that can be used on a drill. If you choose this method, though, you may end up changing the color of the rock wherever you brush it.

Sorry for the delayed response - tank rebuild went on hold due to renovation work. Thanks for the suggestion - it was just an aesthetic thing but hopefully not worth the effort on 300lbs of rock! If I don't like it, I'll use it as motivation to get those encrusting corals I always "needed" :)

 

[Subsea]

You could try a pressure washer. I am with

“Outside of their appearance, why would you want to banish them?”

 

[Subsea]

@Twosixpax
What is an unstoppable BTA infestation?

 

[Sean Clark]

Acid bath. No toothbrush required.

 

[Jamie814]

Acid bath. No toothbrush required.

Yep, Muriatic acid will take care of them very fast. I've cleaned old fiji rock of vermetid snails with it. I used 3 buckets, first acid dip, then fresh water rinse dip, then kalkwasser water dip to neutralize any remaining acid. Then just standard curing process for new setup.

BE SURE TO USE SAFTY PRECAUTIONS WITH MURATIC ACID. It will ruin concrete and can burn your skin and eyes. Thick rubber gloves and goggles are a must. Most big box stores sell it in the swimming pool or paint section.

 

[Twosixpax]

@Twosixpax
What is an unstoppable BTA infestation?

This is
I bought a single Bubble Tip Anenome a couple of years ago. It was happy enough to split a few times in the first 6 months or so, then I went back home to Scotland for 4 months over the Summer. The person looking after the tank did a great job, but nitrates did get elevated, and when I returned there were about 100. By the time I tiore the tank down there were around 200. I gave away as many as I could locally but couldn’t keep up with the rate of reproduction - I was even giving away large rocks full of them.

A recent house move game me the opportunity to reboot the system..

 

[Twosixpax]

Yep, Muriatic acid will take care of them very fast. I've cleaned old fiji rock of vermetid snails with it. I used 3 buckets, first acid dip, then fresh water rinse dip, then kalkwasser water dip to neutralize any remaining acid. Then just standard curing process for new setup.

BE SURE TO USE SAFTY PRECAUTIONS WITH MURATIC ACID. It will ruin concrete and can burn your skin and eyes. Thick rubber gloves and goggles are a must. Most big box stores sell it in the swimming pool or paint section.

Thanks Sean/Jamie.

I think I’m going to go with it as is - the aquarium is set up again in the new home and the rock has been in the sun for around 3 months. Going to try cycling it as is and see how it goes..

 

[Subsea]

This is
I bought a single Bubble Tip Anenome a couple of years ago. It was happy enough to split a few times in the first 6 months or so, then I went back home to Scotland for 4 months over the Summer. The person looking after the tank did a great job, but nitrates did get elevated, and when I returned there were about 100. By the time I tiore the tank down there were around 200. I gave away as many as I could locally but couldn’t keep up with the rate of reproduction - I was even giving away large rocks full of them.

A recent house move game me the opportunity to reboot the system..

Sounds like you have the golden touch. You may have given away the “goose that lays gold eggs”.

 

[Australian_Reef]

This is
I bought a single Bubble Tip Anenome a couple of years ago. It was happy enough to split a few times in the first 6 months or so, then I went back home to Scotland for 4 months over the Summer. The person looking after the tank did a great job, but nitrates did get elevated, and when I returned there were about 100. By the time I tiore the tank down there were around 200. I gave away as many as I could locally but couldn’t keep up with the rate of reproduction - I was even giving away large rocks full of them.

A recent house move game me the opportunity to reboot the system..

You could have at least added a clown fish

 

[Twosixpax]

You could have at least added a clown fish

I actually had a pair of longfin clowns in with them - never went near the anenomes - decided early that the return nozzle was a much more exciting host