Dilema what to do

[Skimmin]

Ok I just found a container I can use by pulling some strings with a friend. What kind of bleach should I use? Just Javex? Or does it need to be something specific?

[Masonjames]

just make sure it's unscented bleach and or free from additives/perfumes etc.

My advice would be just bleach it then acid bath it and be done with it.

Bleach would be useful for any organics and would help prepare for purging. You don't need to soak after bleach. Just rinse really well and let it dry completely. Once it's dry, there is no more bleach. Based solely on the properties of bleach. Soaking would just be a waist of space, water and time IMO.

I would highly recommend doing a muratic acid bath if you are (and should be) concerned about bound up nutrients within the rock. Yes acid will strip away the surface of the rock, but I can guarantee that whatever you strip away on rock (which would not be that much anyways) would be cheaper and a heck of allot easier then dealing with any potential bound phosphates after the fact.
I just looked at a tank the other day who used the same source rock, and was covered in a thick layer of hair algae. There will be allot more invested into purging that rock of bound phosohates then if the rock had been properly prepared prior. And we read story's like this all the time.

I don't know where the rock in question is sourced from but most dry rock that is availabe is sourced inland. The very nature of this means that in most cases it would be heavily loaded with bound phosphates.

Yes you can purge by other methods, but IMO require much greater investment of resources. In some cases substantial.

Bleach, let dry, acid bath, throughly rinse and throw in tank and start seeding. Couldnt be simpler. But could be awhole lot worse.

[Skimmin]

Ok so are you saying to put it in a bleach/water mixture for a minute or two then rinse it off and let it dry? And then once its dry put it in the acid/water solution for a minute or two and rinse and dry again. And then into the tank?

[Masonjames]

Originally Posted by Skimmin

Ok so are you saying to put it in a bleach/water mixture for a minute or two then rinse it off and let it dry? And then once its dry put it in the acid/water solution for a minute or two and rinse and dry again. And then into the tank?

You can bleach it as long as you want really. I'd just let it soak in a bleach water solution overnight. Rinse it really well. Let it dry and then move to acid.
The lenght of the acid treatment and strength is going to be dependant on the rock you have. Very soft, light acid for short time. Very dense stronger acid for longer time. If you are uncomfortable trying it out for the first time just take a few small pieces of rock and test the process out before you commit to doing the lot.

To be safe I'd just start with a 10 to 1 ratio (water to acid) and test for 10 min or so. You don't want to eat away half the rock so start low and less time exposed and up either one and/ or the other depeding on your findings.
Some rocks I have done multiple treatments using 100% acid solution, while others can only take very little acid and exposure. Just start with less. If you thik you need more after that increase.

Just make sure to add acid to water, and take precautions for your own safety. Don't breath in the fumes protect your skin and eyes etc.
you don't need to nutrilize as the rock will automatically do that for you. Just be sure to rinse every nook and cranny really really well. After yes, it can go directly into tank. Or you can let it dry, or soak it, whatever you want to do with it. But as long as its rinsed well it can be ready immediatly for tank.

[Gp Scott]

I agree with masonjames I did the bleach thing and with the muratic acid just get some rubber gloves so you can take the rock out to have a look at it to decide for your self if you acid washed it enough. I kept going until I had very little brown scum and foam coming off the rock

[Myka]

The biggest differences between using acid and using lanthanum chloride is time and precaution. Acid is quicker and possibly risky to your health if you're not smart about it or you have an accident, but in my experience doesn't remove all phosphate (just what's bound to the surface). Lanthanum chloride is safer and in my experience more complete, but takes longer.

Originally Posted by Masonjames

Soaking would just be a waist of space, water and time IMO.

The point of soaking after the bleach is not to get rid of the bleach, it's to leach the phosphate and nitrate out.

[Masonjames]

Originally Posted by Myka

The point of soaking after the bleach is not to get rid of the bleach, it's to leach the phosphate and nitrate out.

My bad. Was reading fast and busy with work. Wasn't trying to knock your comment anyhow. Just trying to help buddy out with a bit more info.

So I retract my statement towards bleach, and instead direct it towards the nutrients.

Originally Posted by Masonjames

Soaking would just be a waist of space, water and time IMO.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Masonjames

My bad. Was reading fast and busy with work. Wasn't trying to knock your comment anyhow. Just trying to help buddy out with a bit more info.

Ya no prob! I just wanted to clarify - I figured maybe I wasn't clear with my comment. I like the acid bath too, but I think some people aren't careful enough to do it safely or don't have the space (it foams a lot).

[Masonjames]

Originally Posted by Myka

Ya no prob! I just wanted to clarify - I figured maybe I wasn't clear with my comment. I like the acid bath too, but I think some people aren't careful enough to do it safely or don't have the space (it foams a lot).

It's awful stuff. Lol. I use it all the time at work so i guess I've just lost sensitivity to the fact it's nasty and can be a safety issue.

[Myka]

Every bit helps. You can hand scrub it all, and soak it for a few weeks doing 100% waterchanges every week and you're going to be better off than using it "fresh out of the box".

Fwiw, try feed supply stores for a big tub. They have large tubs for feed and water - they aren't cheap though. A kiddie pool would do the trick cheaply, but an annoying shape.