Advice Needed: Reusing Real Reef Rock After Tank Sabotage

[bob_]

Hi there,

Firstly, I’m new here so…hello!

I’m setting up a nano 10-gallon tank and need advice on what to do about my rocks. This will be my third tank, and I’m ecstatic to get things going.

Last year, my last aquarium was cut short by my (psycho) now ex-girlfriend. The tank was running for about a month, cycled, and ready to go. Sadly, she vandalized my tank by pouring a whole tub of pH buffer and an entire bottle of tank cleaner solution into it. The tank was in my garage at the time, and I only saw the damage the next day. It was irreversibly destroyed, and I felt awful. Luckily, there were no fish or invertebrates in it. She knew how to hurt me, and she did. I was demotivated to start it up again, so I cleaned up the mess and packed up my aquarium.

I’m sorry for the lengthy story, but here I am now, ready and motivated to get things up and going. I need advice because I kept the rock I used, which is by Real Reef, and I want to use it again. I’m not sure if it’s safe to use or if it needs special treatment. What should I do to get it tank-ready? I’ve never cured rock before, but is that something I need to do? The rock has that purple coating, and I’ve heard bleach will strip that away, so I’m unsure what to do.

Thank you so much for reading this far, and any advice would be massively appreciated.

Yours,
Bob

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Where did you bury the body? Did you use the proper amount of lye? I can dispose of the shovel for you.

 

[bossman818]

I had my tank and rock in storage since 2018. Washed rock with water hose. Got new sand and used Dr Tims to cycle for at least 2 weeks. Tank has been running since April no issues. Got two clowns cleaner shrimp and a bunch of snails and crabs. Many corals. Seems to be going great so far. Good luck!

 

[Formulator]

What was the “tank cleaner” product more specifically?

 

[bossman818]

Clean tank with vinegar. Lets it soak for a day. It does miracles.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

bottle of tank cleaner solution

Unless you know exactly what is in this product, and exactly how it bonds to rock, and exactly how to remove it, I would think it not at all worth risking coral and fish deaths (or mysterious results that may or may not be related to the rocks) for a few pounds of rock (that's now just dry rock anyway, right?).

I'd toss the rock out and start fresh. If you use the rock and it kills something, she's not done messing with you yet. If you start completely fresh, you're in control.

Hey, good luck.

 

[Formulator]

Unless you know exactly what is in this product, and exactly how it bonds to rock, and exactly how to remove it, I would think it not at all worth risking coral and fish deaths (or mysterious results that may or may not be related to the rocks) for a few pounds of rock (that's now just dry rock anyway, right?).

I'd toss the rock out and start fresh. If you use the rock and it kills something, she's not done messing with you yet. If you start completely fresh, you're in control.

Hey, good luck.

Hopefully he can find out what is in the cleaner before just throwing everything out. It could be as harmless as a weak acid that could be rinsed out with copious water rinses.

Also buying new rock just lets the crazy ex-girlfriend win again! Nobody wants that.

 

[VintageReefer]

“Tank cleaner” could have just been an algae product, or water clarity product. We need more info before advising

 

[bob_]

Where did you bury the body? Did you use the proper amount of lye? I can dispose of the shovel for you.

I love this. Thanks for the offer though, but I think the fish community would prefer I stick to aquatic clean-ups only!

 

[bob_]

I had my tank and rock in storage since 2018. Washed rock with water hose. Got new sand and used Dr Tims to cycle for at least 2 weeks. Tank has been running since April no issues. Got two clowns cleaner shrimp and a bunch of snails and crabs. Many corals. Seems to be going great so far. Good luck!

Wow! How have your phosphates been?

 

[VintageReefer]

Stored since 2014. I fully intend to clean and reuse this when I setup my new tank. I have approx 50 lbs in a brute with a few inches of sw

 

[bossman818]

Clean tank with vinegar. Lets it soak for a day. It does miracles

Wow! How have your phosphates been?

Consistently at 0.2. 10% water changes weekly without fail. Alkalinity calcium magnesium has been right where I want it as long as I do those water changes. If I skip a week they are a little wonky but nothing dangerous.

 

[bob_]

What was the “tank cleaner” product more specifically?

Sorry for the long reply and apologies for not being specific. It was a bottle of “Brightwells razor aquarium cleaner”.

 

[bob_]

“Tank cleaner” could have just been an algae product, or water clarity product. We need more info before advising

You’re right. I forgot what It was originally but found out earlier it was a bottle of “Brightwells razor aquarium cleaner”. What do you reckon?

 

[littlefoxx]

Hi there,

Firstly, I’m new here so…hello!

I’m setting up a nano 10-gallon tank and need advice on what to do about my rocks. This will be my third tank, and I’m ecstatic to get things going.

Last year, my last aquarium was cut short by my (psycho) now ex-girlfriend. The tank was running for about a month, cycled, and ready to go. Sadly, she vandalized my tank by pouring a whole tub of pH buffer and an entire bottle of tank cleaner solution into it. The tank was in my garage at the time, and I only saw the damage the next day. It was irreversibly destroyed, and I felt awful. Luckily, there were no fish or invertebrates in it. She knew how to hurt me, and she did. I was demotivated to start it up again, so I cleaned up the mess and packed up my aquarium.

I’m sorry for the lengthy story, but here I am now, ready and motivated to get things up and going. I need advice because I kept the rock I used, which is by Real Reef, and I want to use it again. I’m not sure if it’s safe to use or if it needs special treatment. What should I do to get it tank-ready? I’ve never cured rock before, but is that something I need to do? The rock has that purple coating, and I’ve heard bleach will strip that away, so I’m unsure what to do.

Thank you so much for reading this far, and any advice would be massively appreciated.

Yours,
Bob

Get new rocks!

 

[bob_]

Hopefully he can find out what is in the cleaner before just throwing everything out. It could be as harmless as a weak acid that could be rinsed out with copious water rinses.

Also buying new rock just lets the crazy ex-girlfriend win again! Nobody wants that.

Exactly, the last thing I want is her actions to continue to affect my reefing a year on! The cleaner was just a bottle of brightwells razor aquarium cleaner. You reckon a rinse would suffice then?

 

[bob_]

Unless you know exactly what is in this product, and exactly how it bonds to rock, and exactly how to remove it, I would think it not at all worth risking coral and fish deaths (or mysterious results that may or may not be related to the rocks) for a few pounds of rock (that's now just dry rock anyway, right?).

I'd toss the rock out and start fresh. If you use the rock and it kills something, she's not done messing with you yet. If you start completely fresh, you're in control.

Hey, good luck.

Thanks for the advice! I should’ve been more specific but It was simply a bottle of bright wells razor aquarium cleaner but I respect the caution. I’m not sure its even an acid so how does this affect things for me now?

 

[bob_]

Clean tank with vinegar. Lets it soak for a day. It does miracles.

I had to use decalcifiers when cleaning my tank because of the ph puffer. But definitely going to do this before the build! Thanks

 

[Dom]

I love this. Thanks for the offer though, but I think the fish community would prefer I stick to aquatic clean-ups only!

My predator tank has piranha... just sayin'.

 

[MnFish1]

The sabotage likely makes no difference (I think that was your question)?

Did you keep the rock wet- or dry. during the period? In any case - rinse thourougly - and you should be able to use it as a normal dry rock. (likely most of the 'living things' on the rock were killed by the vinegar)