boiling live rock

jaodissa

Member
I have live rock on hand and want it dead for my dwarf tank. Don't want to deal with any type of hitch hikers or algae. So its been boiling for 30 mins now how long do you think until its free and clear of any stuff?
 

socal57che

Active Member
You could have sold the LR and bought base rock w/money left over. Oh well. 30 mins at boiling should do it. I've heard of people freezing it for 24 hrs, too.
 

jaodissa

Member
there was still some algae left on the rock so Im gonna freeze it tonight and brush it off tomorrow. Hopefully it will be dead as base rock can be.
 

socal57che

Active Member
He can add coralline spores later, but if he has nuisance algae spores present in the tank these rocks came from, I could see where he would want to nuke them.
 

jaodissa

Member
I do not want to risk anything bad being in the tank so I'm killing the good and the bad.
I have another question though. If there is still algae on the rocks after the boiling/freezing/scrubbing will it come back at a later point once the rock as been placed in the tank? Theres quiet a few area were there is still algae in the cracks of the rocks and I cant get to it to manually take it off.
 

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jaodissa
http:///forum/post/3213320
I do not want to risk anything bad being in the tank so I'm killing the good and the bad.
I have another question though. If there is still algae on the rocks after the boiling/freezing/scrubbing will it come back at a later point once the rock as been placed in the tank? Theres quiet a few area were there is still algae in the cracks of the rocks and I cant get to it to manually take it off.
Rocks can and do absorb and hold nutrients that algaes use for food. If the rock is saturated with phosphates, for instance, the likelihood of an algae return is good. Cooking the rock to force these nutrients to be consumed is probably the best way to ensure that they remain algae free. Again, it's not a guarantee, but helpful preventive maintenance. BTW, boiling the rock and "cooking" the rock are two entirely different procedures.
 

jaodissa

Member
Well crap this idea isn't gonna work then is it. No one in town sold base rock so I was hoping to kill off the crap I already had but at the same time I don't want to be introducing a ton of bad algae into my bare system. I also don't want to "cook" the live rock because that will take 6-8 weeks right? Sigh anyone have a good suggestion.
 

u mike

Member
Originally Posted by Jaodissa
http:///forum/post/3213329
Well crap this idea isn't gonna work then is it. No one in town sold base rock so I was hoping to kill off the crap I already had but at the same time I don't want to be introducing a ton of bad algae into my bare system. I also don't want to "cook" the live rock because that will take 6-8 weeks right? Sigh anyone have a good suggestion.
correct me if i am wrong, can you try bleach to kill the spores.( just make sure you change the water every day to delete the bleach solution) Iam not sure this will work just throwing it out there hoping someone with a lot of exp can tell you if it is O K
 

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Bleach did you say bleach

25% bleach solution bath for. 30 min. fresh water rinse until you no longer smell any bleach. fresh water bath with a water conditioner and you are good to go
 

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3213464
Bleach did you say bleach

25% bleach solution bath for. 30 min. fresh water rinse until you no longer smell any bleach. fresh water bath with a water conditioner and you are good to go
Too funny! where you been Joe, on vacation?
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Time in the sun will usually get rid of any remaining algae. It will re-grow, of course. Boiling & freezing certainly killed any algae ,and other life, on the rock.
 

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3213464
Bleach did you say bleach

25% bleach solution bath for. 30 min. fresh water rinse until you no longer smell any bleach. fresh water bath with a water conditioner and you are good to go
Hi Joe!!

I cetainly missed your way of putting things while I was away.
 

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Ouch Joe, sorry to hear that. Hope its getting better.
umm did it mention Jacuzzi and drugs

Hi Joe!!
I cetainly missed your way of putting things while I was away
Happy to see you back my old friend
 

jaodissa

Member
Thanks guys! I will bleach the rocks too! I was thinking of bleaching them or using vinegar but wasn't sure that was an option.
 
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