bleaching limestone rocks ?

[eleyan]

I'm in the process of setting up a FO tank to keep some fish that I can't keep in my reef tank (I'm thinking a large lion or some triggers). I got a bunch of nice shape/size limestone rocks from my back yard, and I cleaned them up with a steel brush. I'll leaving them in the sun for a week to bake off any algae.
Still, they have various color tones. I remember a while back hearing from a guy that was keeping african cichlids that he takes out all his lime stone from the tank once a year and cleans it with bleach to get it to look white again. Anyone ever try this?

[Ram_Puppy]

I would say it shouldn't be a problem as long as your generous with your time after doing it to allow the chlorine to outgas, perhaps using a dechlorinator would be adviseable after the bleaching as well.

From what I have read, when using limestone, texas holy rock, or what not, it is advisable to let it sit in water for a few weeks, essentially curing it just like live rock, giving it a chance to let mineral content leach out.

[eleyan]

How long would you say I have to leave it out for the clorine to gass out (a week) ? also, can I use strait clorine with a spunge to bleach it, or should I soak it in clorine solution? Would the regular clorox bleach for laundray work, or do I need another grade of clorine?

Thanks

[dan]

regular bleach is fine. i would leave it in the clorine for a few days and fresh water for a cupple of days than gass out for a few days in the sun. now your ready!!!!!!!!!

[PsychFish13]

Make sure that there is not any brown iron deposits on the rock and that its clean. Iron Ore is common around the limestone you'll find around central texas. Some times its easier to purchase "clean" landscaping pieces from a rock yard than scavange for it. It typically sells for $90/ton and i usually buy about 200lbs. IT cost about $15-20 and then use the leftovers around the garden. Just my .02$

[eleyan]

psychfish, are you in austin? if so, which landscaping place did you use?

[PsychFish13]

I bought from a place on 620 just past Anderson Mill/Volente towards the Dam. I think its called "Ray's" Its right across from the driving range and only open mon-sat until 2pm or so. I woudl guess they are in the phone book.

[prof]

I run my holy rock in a chlorine solution for at least a week. I make a pretty strong solution and use power heads to keep the water from stagnating. I then rinse and dry the rock in the sun. It then gets another week in the tub with fresh water. Then another rinse and dry in the sun. I then run it in a salt tank to cycle the rock. I let it cycle for as long as possible. I then use it as necessary.

Patience is the key. Don't rush.

[wkopplin]

I sell holey rock and I clean it by soaking it in very strong bleach water for a day, I then hose it off really well and soak it in fresh water for another day. I let it sit out in the sun for a day or two and it is fine. If you want to skip the sun, just throw in some Amquel or something and the rock will be ready in no time. Perfectly safe.

There is a pretty interesting article on bleach on Clorox's site. The stuff turns into seawater when it come in contact with dirt according to them.

http://www.clorox.com/science/rmp/bcycle.html

[prof]

Chlorine will react with air and be released from the water in a gas form. If you leave a bottle of bleach open it will break down over time. It would take years to break down an entire bottle of bleach but it would happen.

Amquel or any other aquarium dechlorinator will neutralize the chlorine in household bleach solution almost instantly.

Wkopplin is correct but I am more paranoid, hence weeks, not days. The best reason to rinse the rock multiple times is that nasty stuff 'can' get trapped in the holes and pores of limestone.

[PsychFish13]

The name of the Rock shop is :
Baker Stone Supply
(512) 335-0178
11213 Ranch Road 620 N
Austin, TX 78726

[wkopplin]

Trust me, just a day or two and some dechlorinator and you will be just fine. I have a separate company and all I do with it is sell holey rock. I have never had a single fish tank get contaminated with those directions. If you want to soak them longer, it certainly cannot hurt, but you do not need to.

[eleyan]

Well, The rocks have been in the bleach for a couple of days now. They look good. time to put them in fresh water for a couple of days.
On a different note, I went and checked out some of the landscaping supply places and I got some Lace rock. It looks really nice. It's much more porous and lighter than limestone. Also, it has lots of holes and caves and nice shapes. Would there be any issue using that type of rock in saltwater tanks. Its volcanic based, so I don't think it would leach anything into the water. I know it wouldn't buffer like limestone, but I have crushed coral substrate in the tank and it seemed to be doing enought buffuring when I had cichlids in the tank (PH was about 8.2-8.4 then).

[PsychFish13]

Do a pH check on it before durring an after a soak. Also volcanic rocks typically have heavy metals in them that could leach. This info was from a freshman geology class and a long time ago.