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Using Fresh Water Decoration


Endevor

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Alright, I have a general idea of what I should do in this situation, but I want to get a second opinion. I currently have a nano-reef with approximately 15lbs of live rock and coral on it. I want to move everything to a 30gal that use to hold a fresh water system. I already have a huge rock in the 30 that's hollow and great for fish to hide in, but it's been in a fresh water tank with green algae on it and stuff. I'd love to use it, it would be perfect along with the live rock I already have. My instinct is to scrub it all off so it doesn't create ammonia when the fresh water stuff dies, but wanted to get a second opinion in case I'm missing something.

 

Thanks

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Mr. Microscope

What kind of rock is it? Is there a lot of color in it? I'd hesitate to use it as it might contain unknown metals/minerals that might leach into your system and throw off your water chemistry. For example, those round polished black river rocks sometimes used in FW displays contains a lot of iron and can even rust in a tank. Might be okay for only fish and maybe plants, but who knows about corals.

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jedimasterben

Under NO circumstances boil rock. Rock can (and will) explode if heated like that, it has air pockets in it that will build pressure and burst.

 

 

Use either bleach or hydrogen peroxide, the peroxide will need to be stronger than 3% though. If bleach, dilute it. Then scrub it and let it air dry, then soak it in just water, then let it air dry, and it's good to go.

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Alright, maybe I should clarify. This isn't real rock. It's a plastic decoration you pick up at the fish store
This one to be exact:

http://www.petsmart.com/supplies/ornaments/top-fin-craggy-rock-aquarium-ornament-zid36-17498/cat-36-catid-300071?var_id=36-17498&_t=pfm%3Dsearch

I'm not too concerned if it looses its color during the cleaning process since I know a saltwater tank will add its own color. I would like to see coral eventually start to grow on it, and like I said before, with the rock being hollow, it would be an excellent place for smaller fish to swim in and out, hide, etc. With it being a decoration designed for aquariums, I doubt it itself will harm the water, but not so sure about the algae that's been growing on it's been in a freshwater tank.

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I would just scrub and give it a vinegar bath. It should be just fine to use, I use similar plastic aquarium decorations in my QT tanks.

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Your link goes to petsmart front page for me.

 

 

Lose the plastic crap.

 

Get live rock.

 

Or dead live rock like ReefCleaners rock. And just do it the right way from the start. Even the Flo Ida boulders they now are trying to pass off as live rock is better than plastic

 

 

Gaaa, plastic stuff reminds me of silly stuff from mom and pop pet stores, when I was a kid, come home with real LIVE elodea. Get one of those scuba Steves, airpowered, from the Seventies too. Back when people put dyed dead coral in their tank to let people know their tank was, ooooh, salt waaater. Used my moms holey Leggs to hold my carbon in my fish tank.

 

That said, I do have a ceramic moai, hes gonna get gsp goatee and mohawk, soon.

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I'll be putting live rock and live sand in with it.
Here's hopefully a better picture:
http://petus.imageg.net/PETNA_36/pimg/pPETNA-5111066_main_t300x300.jpg
I know it's plastic, and normally I'd be on your side with avoiding it all together, but it doesn't look cheesy, and after grime and sea stuff gets on it, I doubt you'll even be able to tell it's plastic. It's also cheaper since I already have the rock. Otherwise, it would be close to 100-150$ for live rock where I am. Double if I get it from a place like petco.

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