Need some advice on how to properly clean some rock

[MrsBugmaster]

Here are a couple links all about the acid cleaning. I found it to be very heplful.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...=cleaning+rock

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587539

Hope that helps you.

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by MrsBugmaster

Here are a couple links all about the acid cleaning. I found it to be very heplful.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...=cleaning+rock

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587539

Hope that helps you.

very informative read there MrsBugmaster.

I purchased some dry eco rock from eco-reefer - anyone know if i should do the bleach/muratic acid bath/possible lanthanum treatment? Are the eco/marco rocks totally "neutral" or do they have some buildup still contained within from whatever prehistoric reef they came from?

also - can we use just a regular rubbermaid container or will the bleach/acid eat through the container?

[MrsBugmaster]

I got some eco rock and put it in RO/Di water with a powerhead for a week then tested water for phosphates. It did test a smaller lever of phosphate so I did the acid wash to be safe. You can use any rubber maid type container.

[Midway]

So how long do i need to cycle these rocks for then? Until the Water parameters are within acceptable ranges?

[Zarstar]

There seems to be a huge issue here that nobody is talking about. IF you choose to do the acid bath it will clean your rock BUT BE WARNED it will also drastically weaken the rock (depending on the density, structure and the organism that created it).

IF I was going to do this I would use white vinegar, for two reasons:

1) it comes in a dilute easily available solution that cant harm your rock with a short bath
2) vinegar will have a similar effect as any other acid on calcium carbonate but the residue is not only non toxic but will feed bacteria capable of cycling your rock. white vinegar is acetic acid.

If you still feel uncomfortable with the copper situation run some copper resin on it for a week or so. that should do it.

FUN FACT: you can dissolve an egg in vinegar (try that before you dip your coral in HCl )

Zar

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Originally Posted by Zarstar

There seems to be a huge issue here that nobody is talking about. IF you choose to do the acid bath it will clean your coral BUT BE WARNED it will also drastically weaken the coral (depending on the density, structure and the organism that created it).

IF I was going to do this I would use white vinegar, for two reasons:

1) it comes in a dilute easily available solution that cant harm your coral with a short bath
2) vinegar will have a similar effect as any other acid on calcium carbonate but the residue is not only non toxic but will feed bacteria capable of cycling your rock. white vinegar is acetic acid.

FUN FACT: you can dissolve an egg in vinegar (try that before you dip your coral in HCl )

Zar

Did i miss something..
The rock is already dead nothing living in or on it what acid bath is for cleaning the rocks well surface shaving by dissolving i small layer.

[Zarstar]

Originally Posted by elias

Did i miss something..
The rock is already dead nothing living in or on it what acid bath is for cleaning the rocks well surface shaving by dissolving i small layer.

Sorry i meant rock.

This is a procedure for cleaning heavy metals off of pourous surfaces such as plastic or in this case reef rock (calcium carbonate).

Vinegar is a much better idea and is almost fool proof (my opinion). Most WHITE vinegar you buy is 5% so its already diluted but you can dilute that by half and it will still work, just slower. Using tap water, for rinsing, treated with a chelating agent is ideal because adding extra "tap water conditioner" will scavenge any released metal ions, doubling the dose is sufficient with no adverse effects.

If you look closely at the pics of that other link wtithin this thread... that rock is ruined, I am certain you could crumble that stuff in your hands. he left it in acid for way to long (my opinion)