should I buy 'used' live rock w/aiptasia

[hrlygma]

I came across over 100 pounds of live rock at a very good price. However, there is a terrible outbreak of aiptasia and a lot of algae. The guy is selling his SW components and converting to FW! Is it possible to get this rock clean enough to put in my (future) reef?

 

[saltfan]

Some here have said that you can boil it, quite quickly to kill the nasties. So the answer I would give to you is yes, go for it. Since its not in your tank you can kill what you want at will then put into your tank. Others suggest Joe's Juice.

 

[cain420]

be sure to scrub, scrub, scrub after boiling.. oh yea.. and cure it too!

 

[travis89]

I use Joe's Juice.

 

[hrlygma]

Won't that kill the rock as well? Do I boil in salt water or fresh? For how long? How long will I have to cure it after that? I just put the rock in tubs of saltwater and a pump, right?

 

[jmick]

I think buying live rock, then boiling it to kill all the aiptasia and to remove the algea, would be pointless and you'd be better off just buying base rock. If the price was right, I might buy it and put it in a tub and let it sit for a while but if the build up of algea (assume hair) was really bad I'd walk.

 

[hrlygma]

He wants $30 for it. At the price of rock, I think that's a pretty good deal. I'm in no hurry for it to be ready--I have already made most of my hurry up mistakes that cost me a lot of money.

 

[jmick]

100 lbs for $30 isn’t bad at all. I’d take it home, scrub it off and then set up another tank with a skimmer and let it sit for a few months or until all the algae and pest anemones are gone…could turn out to be good rock.

 

[stang5_o]

I'd at least buy it and throw it in a rubbermaid tub full of water, a heater and a powerhead to keep the good stuff alive, and no lights for a while. 100 lbs of rock at the lfs around hear would cost me almost 700 bucks!!