sun dry live rocks

TCK Corals · Sep 10, 2009

I had over 100lb of live rocks that was infested with aptisa and these zoas looking like anemone that i could not get rid of. So i took all the rocks out of my tank and dried them in the sun for a few days to kill off all stuff. I was wondering if i put them back in the tank will it cycle the tank all over again. What is the best way to approach this situation.

Sikryd · Sep 10, 2009

ktar said:
I had over 100lb of live rocks that was infested with aptisa and these zoas looking like anemone that i could not get rid of. So i took all the rocks out of my tank and dried them in the sun for a few days to kill off all stuff. I was wondering if i put them back in the tank will it cycle the tank all over again. What is the best way to approach this situation.

I would put 10lbs back in at a time over a couple weeks and I would think you would be fine.

I would test daily though to make sure.

TCK Corals · Sep 10, 2009

thanks

Sikryd · Sep 10, 2009

I would also wash it off real good with some old tank water during a water change, and run the skimmer wet until you are finished adding all the rock.

ZoaFan08 · Sep 10, 2009

I would think you would have a cycle. You should hose them down real good and put them in a bin with a lot of flow and a skimmer. How much rock did you keep in your tank? How long has your tank been setup.

Pizzapro83 · Sep 10, 2009

I have the same problem.. Interested to see how it works.

bamachamp92 · Sep 10, 2009

When i buy new live rock now I bleach them so I dont introduce any pests to my tank when i get done bleaching them i set them out in the sun for 6 or 8 hours and then soak in ro for a three or four days then put them in the tank and I never have a problem.

ZoaFan08 · Sep 10, 2009

bamachamp92 said:
When i buy new live rock now I bleach them so I dont introduce any pests to my tank when i get done bleaching them i set them out in the sun for 6 or 8 hours and then soak in ro for a three or four days then put them in the tank and I never have a problem.

Question, why pay so much for live rock if your just going to bleach them?

miyags · Sep 10, 2009

dido why bye live rock to make dead rock?

Reef Pets · Sep 10, 2009

After sun drying the rock I would recommend taking the rock to a car wash and pressure washing it. This will strip the dead aiptasia off of the rock along with any other dead creatures such as sponges.
Of course the beneficial bacteria will be dead on the rock therefore its no longer considered to be "live rock". For this reason you will need to cycle/cure the rock all over again. To cycle the rock put it into a tub with high flow and put a couple other pieces of live rock from your tank in the tub to help seed the bacteria on the rock that you cleaned. This will make the cycle process much faster. Everyday you want to do a 50 percent water change from the tub of live rock. This will keep the nitrates from getting too high. After doing this for two weeks you should be able to place the rock back into your tank. Its kind of a long process but its the proper way of doing it without having issues.

bamachamp92 · Sep 10, 2009

not to hijack the thread, but I have a large tank so I need a lot of large rock. I already have a lot of live rock so when Im out and find a large piece that I want I bleach it so I dont introduce things into my tank that I dont want. If you had seen some of the stuff that has come out of live rock while bleaching it you wouldnt believe it.

Reef Pets · Sep 10, 2009

I think that they are asking why purchase live rock at a high dollar when you can purchase dry rock for less than half the cost. With dry rock there are no pests and it cheaper. Not only that, you dont have to worry about taking the time to bleach it.
For example, Marco Rocks sells dry rock at a really good price and its AWESOME rock. There is no need to bleach it and you are not paying the high dollar of live rock.

bamachamp92 · Sep 10, 2009

its an impulse thing, if I see a nice piece with a lot of shape that would go nice in my tank I cant help myself

Reef Pets · Sep 10, 2009

I think all of use can relate to that... :smile:

bamachamp92 said:
its an impulse thing, if I see a nice piece with a lot of shape that would go nice in my tank I cant help myself

ZoaFan08 · Sep 10, 2009

This hobby is all about impulse :)

bluebeltreefer · Sep 11, 2009

ive had lots of experience with aiptasia. sun drying them, believe it or not, did not work for me. they came right back to life a few days later. everything but the aiptasia died on the rock. if you are planning on drying out the rock, you are better off soaking it in a bleach solution. that will kill everything and you will start fresh.

i did exactly like bama did, and i bleached my rocks. killed all of the aiptasia.

good luck!

acronautical · Sep 11, 2009

I'd sun-soak them for about six months to kill of aiptasia!

Marc · Sep 12, 2009

WE use both hydrochloric acid and muritac acid
DO NOT use them together
each have their benefits but I promise you there is nothing that will live through those baths and any organics will melt away.
Also the low PH that the muritac causes will make the rock want to give up it's PO4 (think Ca reactor)
(be careful of strength and soak time this can and will melt rock (again think Ca Rx) )

Here's a pic of ~ 400# of Fiji having a nice hot tubing

first in

starting to drain down for a rinse