Build Series|Eps. 6| Bleaching Live Rock: Saltwater Aquarium

This video will touch on what "baking" or "cooking" live rock is NOT. I will also go into the steps I took to bleach my live rock which was taken from my 75 gallon saltwater aquarium.

[joeymerrell]

There is a local family here that was starting a reef tank that actually boiled their rock. Long story short, they are all ok but spent a few nights in hospital. Research your build folks. Take your time and do it safely and correctly. Great vid Gil

[ScottM]

Awesome video Gil and great information on curing dry rock the proper way. The results you achieved proved your point very well.

[heidisfishtank]

I’m so glad that you are doing this build right before I do my 125. It’s really helpful to watch you do the steps right before I do.

[tomwickert]

Thanks for sharing. I’m a year into the hobby, but am thoroughly researching habits and practices throughout. One aspect of bleach or acid curing has suddenly grabbed my attention leading me to your video. I am a 19 year professional pool operator and am getting inspired to share my knowledge on the matter.
One fyi is that microbactor 7 is dormant bacteria used for cleaning and does not repopulate the same as live nitrifying bacteria that is used on live rock.

[Jhonnyespinosa]

Hey Gil, question, what about if instead of setting a container with a pump and add bacteria, can i just do that in my tank? Put the rocks already cured and add the bacteria a let it run for few weeks?

[louierockefeller]

Can you tell me why live rock has sand on it

[djmjr]

Hello, great vid!! I had a tank move take longer than expected so i have been dealing with some major algae issues in the display been over a year since the move. I am wanting to take some rock out, a little at a time and cure it then put it back in. Question is, since ill be putting the cleaned dry rock backnin an established tank, do i need to cycle the rock i just cleaned?

[broadcast]

What's the purpose of using RO/DI water when the rocks are submitted to the bleach process when it's just for cleaning them of organic material?? Why not using just regular tap water??

[jaguaresed]

Hello I did bleached my live rock and after a week its white a tick white idk what happen, does anyone know this or has happened ?

[lospolloshermanos]

Cooking rock or baking rock means something completely different in the Hood!

[MoneyMarcMes]

What if you use vinegar in place of chlorine bleach?

[daniellepogi]

thanks for sharing this informative vid but i just want to ask, do i need to bleach dry rocks? my rocks werent used for years..thank you :)

[britneybevelry]

I have bought dry live rock, and dry base rock. I've noticed one type looks like it's dirty, and the other is really white and clean. How do I make them the same color? And what's the next step to get my tank started? I'm wanting a regular saltwater tank for fish. I bought everything I need, and the rock, what's next? The internet says scrub them. Do I scrub both types?

[GENISISTWENTYONE]

Great info Gil. I always thought baking or cooking LR was literal. Never did it before and glad I didn’t

[soloreef]

I know your preference is bleach and clearly it has served you well, I was always scared to use it. I preferred the vinegar route even for my filter socks, I guess I’m just paranoid haha...looking forward to seeing the new tank take shape!!

[gilbery]

Will this method kill of all algae's?

[whocares]

I just did this, I’m not sure it was necessary but it worked out fine. I had my tank in storage for 10 years until I had a living situation that worked for me. After bleaching and drying there was 0 traces of chlorine.

[Subi_doo]

I’m building a cichlids tank, and I found large pieces of white coral that looks like a brain…. So to clarify…
1. Rinse rock
2. Soak for a week or so in 10:1 bleach mix (10 gallons water, 1 gallon bleach)
3. Repeat bleach as it weakens
4. Dump, rinse, sniff test
5. Dechlorinate soak rock
6. Place rock back in dechlorinate water, then add choice of beneficial bacteria (fresh water for me) and let it sit with moving water until the water becomes clear and stays clear?

[quartermilereefer]

great video I'm doing the same thing but only I'm not using bleach bleach just freaks me out I don't know why I don't want to take any chances I have too much saltwater specimens and too much money on the line so I'm doing saltwater dump and reload method 5 weeks great video though I'm sure you'll be fine

[Leigh]

Great educational video that will hopefully help a few reefers avoid their local A & E (or worse). I have 100 Kg of DIY rock soaking in saltwater after being in a weak bleached solution for months (2litres of bleach in a 125 gallon tank). I think i have the cleanest rock around lmao but unfortunately, i cant get it to stop leeching PH. After testing way over 10 PH in the beginning, its come down to 9.2 (up from 7.3 source water) in a few days so clearly still leeching alot of something.. Almost at the point of giving up on it, which would be a shame seeing how much work i've put into it over the last 11 months... yep, 11 months ago i made the 1st batch and its still curing/de-leeching/soaking along with the following 4 or 5 batches i subsequently made... GRRRR