Bleached Rock - Is it normal and do i use it?

[ziggyjane07]

Hi all,

I am new to this and haven’t even got to the very first cycle of my very first tank yet? (Frustrating 2.5months later) So my question is I have bleached all the Rock I was given for my fist ever reef tank, bit more than 10:1 ratio for more than a week, however I’m not sure if its going to be ok to use? (looks kinda funky!)
Some of it went really black and maybe rusty colour so i thought i really better not use, but here are some pics of what some has turned out like?
As i’ve said I’ve never done this before - should I use this or will it create big problems for startup of my new tank? I don’t want to stuff up before i even get going!!
#reefsquad
Thanks so much everyone!!!!

 

[Ron Reefman]

It looks OK to me. I've used live rock with all kinds of different looks.

If you want to be sure, fill a bucket with saltwater , put in a pump to move some water and load all the rock (or the ones you are worried about) into the bucket. Test for the basics like ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, copper, phosphate just to get a baseline. Wait a week and test again. Maybe even wait a couple more weeks and test again.

IMHO you are probably fine. But testing is also a good idea, especially if you have concerns. Good luck.

 

[DeepintheReef]

That looks pretty normal, I would start cycling in a bucket. As stated above, test for copper and phosphates. If present, you can use cuprisorb for copper and lanthanum chloride for phosphates

 

[colossal_tater]

No that rock looks amazing! You’ll thank yourself later for using that over something like the Marco dry rock. What you have is way better. I just used the kind of stuff you have (dried out true live rock) that I bleached for a couple weeks and then let sit in RODI water for another couple of weeks. I had no issues at all. It looked the same as yours, there’s no way to get the good stuff completely white with bleach. You would have to rub the first layer of the rock off.

If you’ve got the bleach off the rock, don’t overthink it! It’s going to look great.

 

[ziggyjane07]

It looks OK to me. I've used live rock with all kinds of different looks.

If you want to be sure, fill a bucket with saltwater , put in a pump to move some water and load all the rock (or the ones you are worried about) into the bucket. Test for the basics like ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, copper, phosphate just to get a baseline. Wait a week and test again. Maybe even wait a couple more weeks and test again.

IMHO you are probably fine. But testing is also a good idea, especially if you have concerns. Good luck.

Thankyou so much

 

[ziggyjane07]

No that rock looks amazing! You’ll thank yourself later for using that over something like the Marco dry rock. What you have is way better. I just used the kind of stuff you have (dried out true live rock) that I bleached for a couple weeks and then let sit in RODI water for another couple of weeks. I had no issues at all. It looked the same as yours, there’s no way to get the good stuff completely white with bleach. You would have to rub the first layer of the rock off.

If you’ve got the bleach off the rock, don’t overthink it! It’s going to look great.

Thank you so much

 

[ziggyjane07]

That looks pretty normal, I would start cycling in a bucket. As stated above, test for copper and phosphates. If present, you can use cuprisorb for copper and lanthanum chloride for phosphates

Thank you so much

 

[Billdogg]

I'd use it all and not give it a second thought.

 

[ziggyjane07]

I'd use it all and not give it a second thought.

Thank you! - I’m going too!!!! here goes nothing

 

[ziggyjane07]

Hi All,
ok so all the rock is in the salt water cycling been over 24hrs and I’ve tested - doesn’t appear to be any copper (that test reads clear and no tint to it) however phosphates a different issue?
It seems to have sky rocketed!!!!!! the test goes blue and then flashes .90 on the Hanna checker?? So something very off there. I’ve done 3 rechecks just in case its operator error and they are all the same
I am a total beginner so am learning - hopefully quick!!!! Can I please ask what should I be doing at this point please???

TIA again