Live Rock question

[MadReefer]

I pulled out some live rock to clean off hair algae yesterday and left two small pieces out all night. They sat outside through all the rain etc.
What should I do to ensure no issues when I added them back in?

Thanks
Mark

 

[TanksNStuff]

That's a tough call. That's like letting it sit in unfiltered tap water over night. There's no telling what kind of minerals the rock absorbed from the rain.

I'd suggest putting it in a bucket of new salt water with a power head for a day or two. Maybe even doing a water change on the second day. No guarantee that it will release any minerals, but it may dillute it down to where it won't harm your tank.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I wouldn’t be overly concerned about the minerals….there’s probably more pollution crap in the rainwater than minerals.

What would concern me is the life that has now died within the rock….from bacteria to the small inverts that occupy the rock. They will cause a cycle….how big or small is the question, but it will happen. So the question is whether or not your tank can take some kind or cycle or should you do this in a small “quarantine” tank?

How large are the rocks? Maybe put one in and watch for an ammonia spike??? Hard to call this one…..the safest way would be to cycle in a separate tank.

 

[downbeach]

I think I would just hose it off to get rid of any dead or dying stuff, along with any HA, rinse it in some SW and return it to the tank.

 

[MadReefer]

The rocks are about 3." square by 1" thick and the other is triangle shape 5" at the widest and 2" thick.
I guess I will rinse them off ans soak in SW for a day or two.

Thanks

 

[Fish Brain]

I would put the rocks in a 5 gallon bucket with fresh saltwater a heater and powerhead, wait a week and test for ammonia. If ammonia tests at 0, back to the tank, otherwise you will have to cure the rock.

 

[Olivier]

why are you in such a hurry to put the rock back? why not let it bake in the sun for few days until the rock completely white and dry then soak it in fresh water and clean then back to main tank.

 

[MadReefer]

Not in rush. I have a bad habit of misplacing things.

 

[NikkiT]

If you have the time, I agree with Thermo- put the rock in a bucket with saltwater with a powerhead and a heater, and let it fully cycle. If the rock baked in the sun/was rained on, lots of the good bacteria has died. So, before the rock can be useful again, it needs to be recolonized by helpful bacteria. This is also a good time to get rid of that nasty hair algae- cycle the rock in a place with minimal light until the water is clear, the rock is algae free, and rock is no longer stinky.
Good luck!

 

[MadReefer]

Nikki,
I scrubbed all the algae off Sunday. I just left these two out in the yard by mistake. I will take pics later and post. I may have one with the HA and then show after.

 

[shipwrecked]

I wouldnt worry 'bout nothing,finish rinsing off any debris and throw them back in the tank.After all it sounds like it was minimal compared to the amount thats in the tank right?