How to clean old live rock

[PghReef]

So I had a tank that was set up for awhile that went through a crash. HOB filter quit then restarted causing an ammonia spike that killed off all corals which led to further ammonia spikes, somehow the fish survived. That was about 3 years ago and the tank has been sitting as an aiptasia and algae garden for a lonely clownfish, havnt even done a WC in 2 years. I want to reuse some of this rock in a new tank and want to make sure I don't see aiptasia.

I've tried to read up and seem to find different answers on how to do this and I do not fully understand the life cycles of aiptasia and algae and what spores can or can not survive. Does a freshwater sip in 50 degree water do the trick? Plan on bleaching the rock afterward for a few weeks and then drying out as well in the cold outdoors I know nothing living will survive but am unsure about spores that I don't want hatching later on when back in salt water

 

[dbraun15]

I had the same issue with a previous tank...bleached the rock(1/2 gallon of bleach in Rubbermaid container with powerhead for a week or so) then took the rock out and used muratic acid(can be bought at Home Depot) to take the top layer off and release any phosphates bound in the rock. 2 years later and still aiptasia free--I am a little more diligent in making sure it doesn't slip in on a frag etc. Good luck!