Ocean Rock

[joeskandal]

We very nearly picked up some ocean rock to go in one of our tanks the other day, but the guy in our LFS said it needs to be soaked for ages and ages to knock the PH levels down, as its full of calcium.
It looks great, but it seems like a bit of a nightmare to prepare.
Also, i liked the idea of using like a live rock to build up and imitate a reef for the tank, is this possible, or more hassle than it is worth?

 

[helterskelter]

What fish are you keeping and what sort of set up?

 

[Ragtagcurtis]

If you keep fish that require a high PH such as Malawi cichlids the ocean rock is a huge help and can go right in. I have 15kg in my tank and it has only raised my PH by .2 so far to give you an idea. Don't know if it will go up further...

 

[MBOU]

Soaking it wont make any difference lol. Its a calcerous rock so until the whole rock has gone, it wall always raise your ph. Not so bad for some livebearers, african cichlids or goldfish but not much else tbh.

That and white rock goes green in about 2 weeks, it wont stay white!!

 

[helterskelter]

That and white rock goes green in about 2 weeks, it wont stay white!!

It dose turn green quite quickly, but it can be cleaned, this is what i have to do every 2-3 months, soak it in boiling hot water with some bleach for 5-6 hours or longer. Then allow to air for 24 hours or if you need it back quickly wash with fresh water and then add loads of aquasafe this dose help to remove the bleach. only return the rock once you cant smell bleach on the rock any more.

http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_215104.php

Or you can get some to do it for you. As seen in the link above.

 

[Ragtagcurtis]

That and white rock goes green in about 2 weeks, it wont stay white!!

It dose turn green quite quickly, but it can be cleaned, this is what i have to do every 2-3 months, soak it in boiling hot water with some bleach for 5-6 hours or longer. Then allow to air for 24 hours or if you need it back quickly wash with fresh water and then add loads of aquasafe this dose help to remove the bleach. only return the rock once you cant smell bleach on the rock any more.

http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_215104.php

Or you can get some to do it for you. As seen in the link above.

Wouldn't ever recommend bleaching it to be honest... to much room for error.

 

[helterskelter]

That and white rock goes green in about 2 weeks, it wont stay white!!

It dose turn green quite quickly, but it can be cleaned, this is what i have to do every 2-3 months, soak it in boiling hot water with some bleach for 5-6 hours or longer. Then allow to air for 24 hours or if you need it back quickly wash with fresh water and then add loads of aquasafe this dose help to remove the bleach. only return the rock once you cant smell bleach on the rock any more.

http/www.aquarist-...il62_215104.php

Or you can get some to do it for you. As seen in the link above.

Wouldn't ever recommend bleaching it to be honest... to much room for error.

I know what your saying, but I've done it for 10 years and many other people's tanks too and never lost a fish from it. As long as you give it time to air or you remove the the bleach using chemicals it's 99.99% safe.

 

[joeskandal]

thanks for your comments.
I wont be putting bleach anywhere near my tank thanks, nor ocean rock, unless we decide to keep cichlids.
Thanks again.

 

[Ragtagcurtis]

That and white rock goes green in about 2 weeks, it wont stay white!!

It dose turn green quite quickly, but it can be cleaned, this is what i have to do every 2-3 months, soak it in boiling hot water with some bleach for 5-6 hours or longer. Then allow to air for 24 hours or if you need it back quickly wash with fresh water and then add loads of aquasafe this dose help to remove the bleach. only return the rock once you cant smell bleach on the rock any more.

http/www.aquarist-...il62_215104.php

Or you can get some to do it for you. As seen in the link above.

Wouldn't ever recommend bleaching it to be honest... to much room for error.

I know what your saying, but I've done it for 10 years and many other people's tanks too and never lost a fish from it. As long as you give it time to air or you remove the the bleach using chemicals it's 99.99% safe.

Interesting. I'm guessing you probably had Cichlids that used to rock for territories? if so how did they take having it moved for 24 hours? would it not increase aggression?