Cleaning LR

[fireeater]

I am expecting 60lbs of live rock in the mail.
The person I purchased it from on ---- said to clean it with anti-bacterial soap and rinse with fresh water.
Is this really what I am supossed to do to it?
Thanks!

 

[melbournefl]

Anti-bacterial soup???????????? NOOOOOOOOOO I don't have any idea why someone selling you live rock would say such a thing. Are you sure you bought live rock?
Very confused here,
Paul

 

[reeftanknewbie]

The whole point of LR is bacteria I thought. I definatly wouldn't use soap on LR. Please a "shark" help him. I am sure someone will answer soon who is much more knowledgable. (and can spell)

 

[jim672]

Fireeater,
Paul is right.......if you wash that rock with soap of any kind you'll be killing anything on it that might be "live"......plus contaminating it so you'd probably never be able to safely use it in your tank!! The only "treatment" for live rock is to rinse it, gently, in a bucket of aged salt water.
Another issue......if the rock is coming to you by mail, even if it was live when it was sent, there's likely to be substantial die-off by the time you get it. If your tank is already established, I'd suggest re-curing the rock in another tank. If you don't do that, the rock may start another cycle which could kill any fish/inverts/corals you have in your tank.
Jim

 

[slothy]

and if its going into a uncycled tank, then just throw it in.. let the rock cycle your tank..

 

[fireeater]

Thanks guys, I will rinse it off with some water from my tank. The tank is a new set up so the rock will do no damage.
The guy I purchased it from said he had washed it with the anti-bacterial soap and rinsed it real good before he put it in his tank.
He is selling off his tank and contents on ---- now so I purchased the LR. I paid about a 1.70 a pound for it.
I just hope it all turns out well.
Thanks again!

 

[melbournefl]

Personally, I wouldn't put anything in the tank that had been cleaned or touched by an antibacterial soap *ever*, I'm still stumped by the whole concept. My concern is, could the reason this guy is shutting down his tank be because it's killed everything that's he's put in the son-of-a-gun???????? I wish I had some more information on this rock, I just DON'T like the idea at all! I'll tell you right now, it takes a lot more than a quick rinse to clean out live rock. The whole reason live rock is used is because of the bacteria that make homes in the rock where oxygen can't get to them. The price is just too cheap to be *right*, he should have been able to get more than that selling it to an LFS in his area and saved the hassle of e-bay.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Paul

 

[melbournefl]

Your comment that the tank is new and the rock can't do any damage worries me too. If the rock still contains residue of the soap, it could leach into the sand, and more importantly, you'll probably not know you've got a real problem until you introduce livestock.
Just my opinion, any sharks wanna jump in here?
Later,
Paul

 

[simm]

I agree with Mel. If he has already rinsed it with soap you may be in bad luck. The whole point of LR is the bacteria and living organisims within it. There could be a possibility he realy didnt rinse it and is just trying to sabotage you but than again he still could have. Tough decision.

 

[melbournefl]

you hate to admit you agree with me????? is this a subtle way of saying I'm never right????? LOL just kidding
Later,
Paul

 

[simm]

hahah no no mel. Just saying I hate the fact that what you are telling him is true. He could really mess up his tank if he put it in there. hehe there mel I edited that post.

 

[slothy]

well if your fish tank looks like a bubble bath, ya know you got probs eheh.. i would be against throwing that rock in more i think about it... soap taste like pooo and i dont see it being good in a tank either

 

[simm]

hehe i guess they would be squeeky clean fish. No really FireEater it really can cause you serious probs in the future.

 

[jim672]

I'm certainly not a Shark but I agree with you guys........... soap and sw don't mix.
If you can get out of the deal.....I would. Otherwise the best use of that rock will be $1.70 per lb. paperweights!
Jim

 

[broomer5]

FireEater
I also agree with everything said above.
This is flat out one of the most weird things I've heard.
Washing live rock with soap.
As mentioned - if it's true that this rock has been washed with anitibacterial soap - I would not even think of putting it in a marine tank. Not one I expected to be a success.
I don't even like to wash my hands with soap - rinse - and place my hand in the tank - let alone 60 pounds of porous soapy live rock.
I'm afraid the $102.00 + shipping will not be worthwhile - I'm sorry to say.
I'd try and get the deal with this soapy rock ---- dude turned around - or take the loss and scrap it.
The sad part of this story is that you could have spent $107.00 and got 20-25 lbs of nice clean Fiji rock right here on this site, shipped to your door.
----

 

[melbournefl]

Thanks for backing us up Broomer I was afraid all the sharks had left us kids here to play without supervision actually I'm just bumping this to make sure he see's it when he comes back.

 

[simm]

Originally posted by MelbourneFL
Thanks for backing us up Broomer I was afraid all the sharks had left us kids here to play without supervision actually I'm just bumping this to make sure he see's it when he comes back.
hehe Mel you said earlier (LOL Simm you hate to admit you agree with me????? is this a subtle way of saying I'm never right????? LOL just kidding
So tables turned. is this a subtle way of saying we dont know what we are talking about? LOl J/K

 

[melbournefl]

hehehe, nope not at all, but you know, the sworn testimony of a shark adds a lot to one's credibility
Later,
Paul

 

[simm]

hehe I know Is just rasing you on when you said it to me

 

[broomer5]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm LOL
And here all along I thought an invitation to jump in with an opinion on soapy live rock from ---- was being extended ...