clean live rocks

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xeanliao

Member
Today, I purchased about 100lb fiji live rocks. They have been in a reef tank for more than 10 years until today I purchased them. The owner is breaking the tank apart now.

They must be live, but I can see they have a lot Aiptasia and some turf algae on them. I won't be surprised there are also hidden things. If I can keep them alive, great. If not, I still want to clean them to have a clean start.

May I be guided to clean these rock?
 
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xeanliao

Member
Just watch a video from BRS: Bleach method seems very attempting to me. I think I will do more research and learning to decide whether I should try, as the video suggested: safety first :)

My #1 objective is to kill all the Aiptasia and worms. I am fine with they become dry/dead rock. These are for my future 2nd tank, I think I would like to have a clean start.

Question: what if I just expose these rocks under the sun (pretty hot recently), Or just soak them in RO/DI water for as long as it takes, will all those pest all died off?
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Fw or heat will kill every thing yes. However with all that dead matter your tank cycle will go off the charts for a few weeks. Unless the rinse the hell outa it. Even then you will never get it all out
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Never used bleach myself. As far as apatasia I've either used pep shrimp, matted file fish or individually cooked just them
 
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xeanliao

Member
jay0705 said:
Never used bleach myself. As far as apatasia I've either used pep shrimp, matted file fish or individually cooked just them
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How about just the common curing method: heater and power head/water pump in 20 gallon container and let it cycle for weeks or as long as it takes, will those worms and aiptasia pest die, too? I am thinking, complete clean is nice to have, but good husbandry is really the long term success. But there are just so many aeptasia on these rock now. I for sure want to get rid of them first.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Can you do a quarantine for the rock to see if you can kill off the aips? Hopefully, that's the only real harmful thing on them.
 
X

xeanliao

Member
beth said:
Can you do a quarantine for the rock to see if you can kill off the aips? Hopefully, that's the only real harmful thing on them.
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I would if I am sure aiptasia will die off. There are a lot of them and not small. I heard they are fairly tough to kill.

I am thinking to mix 3 gallon vinegar with 20 gallon tap water, soap these rocks in the bin over night, then rinse, air/sun dry them in my backyard. I am ok they become dry rocks. I googled a bit, I seem more comfortable than using bleach since I use these vinegar to clean my equip all the time.
 
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