Any Toxins On Newpaper That Could Leach Onto New Live Rock?

[livinlifeinBKK]

Hey guys, I just bought a couple nice pieces of live rock from the market and the guy at the shop wrapped them in newspaper and also poured water in the bag as I requested to preserve the microfauna, coralline algae, and bacteria until I made it back home. I was curious if there might be any toxins present in either the paper or ink that could be harmful if not rinsed before adding it to the tank. This is going in the Greissinger Goby breeding tank which is why I'm asking. I know its common to wrap wet live rock in newspaper but are there any known toxins that should be rinsed off or can activated carbon remove any trace chemicals that might be present?
Thanks!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

@Randy Holmes-Farley this might be a question you can answer best

 

[Dburr1014]

Hey guys, I just bought a couple nice pieces of live rock from the market and the guy at the shop wrapped them in newspaper and also poured water in the bag as I requested to preserve the microfauna, coralline algae, and bacteria until I made it back home. I was curious if there might be any toxins present in either the paper or ink that could be harmful if not rinsed before adding it to the tank. This is going in the Greissinger Goby breeding tank which is why I'm asking. I know its common to wrap wet live rock in newspaper but are there any known toxins that should be rinsed off or can activated carbon remove any trace chemicals that might be present?
Thanks!

Did he wrap it in the business section or the comic section?

Rocks don't like the business section from what I here.


Bad dad joke I know.
Back in the day, that's what they did. Wrap in newspaper, get it home and dump it in.

If your paranoid, do a wc and rinse it with that.

 

[MissMolly]

Great question. My guess is that every chemical that was used in paper production is now on the rocks. Just put it in an empty tank or bucket for a week and run Carbon. That’s what I would do.

 

[MissMolly]

Especially since it’s for a breeding tank

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Great question. My guess is that every chemical that was used in paper production is now on the rocks. Just put it in an empty tank or bucket for a week and run Carbon. That’s what I would do.

It was only on it for about an hour before I opened the bag and took the newspaper out so I dont think any chemicals which may be present have much time to be absorbed into the rock. With that said, it is a breeding tank so Im going to soak it for a few hours or so in a separate container to rinse it. I would go a few days with activated carbon but dont have any and also I want the copepods, coralline, and all healthy bacterial strains to make it into the tank.

I haven't added the Greissinger Gobies yet because I want to set it up very naturally and also allow the copepods and amphipods population to grow from the dosing of phytoplankton before I add them. I wouldn't care quite as much if the rock wasnt direct from the ocean, but since it is, it has a lot to add to the tank's microbiome (bacteria wise and with the microfauna present).

 

[Reefering1]

It's fine as Dburr said, this is how it was always done. Shipping rocks submerged is relatively new concept, done to minimize die off

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

It's fine as Dburr said, this is how it was always done. Shipping rocks submerged is relatively new concept, done to minimize die off

theyre great pieces too! They smell as fresh as if you were standing in front of the sea!

 

[Reefering1]

I bet!! Let's see some pics, I know you get amazing stuff over there

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I bet!! Let's see some pics, I know you get amazing stuff over there

Ill send a pic when I add them tonight...the tank is only halfway full at the moment though because I needed to order new RODI cartidges and have just been using distilled water (with salt of course). I already found a little brittle star on the bigger piece and another piece came with a nice little feather duster as well as completely covered in coralline!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't know the answer, and it certainly may vary from paper to paper, but I personally would not be worrying about it.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

The only thing to be careful about is the ink on newspaper. I know for those of us in the states. The ink is usually soy or water based ink. We ditched using inks with heavy metals in it a while ago due to the environment.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I don't know the answer, and it certainly may vary from paper to paper, but I personally would not be worrying about it.

Thank you for your input Randy! Im not particularly worried either since I know its a common practice but decided a couple hours soak in water from the tank wouldnt hurt and would get any silt off that built up from the week or so its been in the holding tank.

The only thing to be careful about is the ink on newspaper. I know for those of us in the states. The ink is usually soy or water based ink. We ditched using inks with heavy metals in it a while ago due to the environment.

That was my original concern which is why I decided to open the bag and remove the newspaper after an hour (before getting home). I highly doubt there are any heavy metals in ink here either but in the past I wouldve been worried. Ill also be running some activated carbon in the next couple days when it arrives (just to try to keep any contaminants out whether from the newspaper or elsewhere due to my plans for this particular setup).