Ok, restarting, bleaching rock, need some advice

Well, I decided I didn't want to deal with trying to rid all of the macro algae off of my rocks (http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/sessionthrees-110g-tank-53773.html) . In addition to that, I had at least 3 mantis shrimp, cirolanid isopods, and digitate hydroids which were starting to spread. I decided last night to take drastic measures and nuke (bleach) my rock. Right now, it's sitting in a trash can with a 50/50 bleach/water solution and man, is it turning white!

My decision was helped by the fact that I had to remove all the rock to catch the Sohal so I could return it to the LFS.

Also, a note about the Mantis shrimp. I observed one kill 3 narcissus snails as the approached the trap that I set out for HIM! Just wow.

Ok, so back to the point. The rock is bleaching so it's being taken care of. What I'd like to know is:

1) How can I sterilize my aquarium/sump/plumbing? Could I just add some bleach to the water and circulate the water through the system. Does bleach attach silicone? Would vinegar be better?

2) Could I use this bleaching process on my aragonite sand?

Thanks in advance. I'm a little bummed to be starting over, but excited to since I will be able to do a couple of things a little differently this time.

Thanks!

 

I myself would spray the tank with straight bleach and not use the same sand as you never really know what is in there. If you can run bleach through the pump lines then that would clean them out good. KOgle done his tank that way but you will need to make sure you get it all rinsed out good.

Also make sure you spray up under the rim of the tank.

 

Thanks Otty. I suppose I'll be buying new sand then. Heck, I'm even eyeing a new tank. (Getting a very nice bonus at work next week!)

Oh, got my AC III today. Too bad I won't be able to use it for awhile.

 

Karma for the work you have in front of you. Take pics along the way. You have the perfect opportunity to start a really cool thread here. Go step by step. It will be useful to someone later on.

 

Alrighty, will do. I'll start with a pic of the rocks being bleached when I get home this evening. haha I'll probably just start a new tank thread when I do.

 

Might as well......I will look for it when I get home tonight.....

 

Welcome to the club ! I've also bleached my rock and sterilized additional devices! I think It is possible to sterilize your sand, but definitely not with bleach! You would have to boil it! Simply! High pressure/temperature sterilization is far more effective than bleach! This is why this technique it's commonly used in laboratories! However, if you can't boil your sand, stick wtih Otty's advice and try to get new sand! Moreover, active component of bleach - sodium hypochlorite will definitely cross-react with Ca,Mg, and other metals commonly found in coral sand, yielding insoluble salts and definitely degrading quality of your sand!!! Good luck!

 

I bleached my sand and all of my equipment in the tank but later just tossed the sand because it's very hard to rinse. I would just buy new dry aragonite sand. If you use bleach in the display just make sure you purge it really well with clean water. I refilled and emptied my tank 3 times before I was ok with it.

Sounds like you're taking the needed steps to ensure success! Karma!

 

I am doing the bleaching thing too (Bryopsis problem that I couldn't solve for good no matter what) I started last weekend with the bleach/water mix for 2 days then I went to the water/baking soda for 2 days then I am at the water only I am going to start pulling out pieces a few at a time and dry them next to my furnace with a fan ( its not that sunny here in NJ and getting cold out) I wanted to attack my sand next and I am thinking I might just replace it I do not have algae on it but I am not sure if some Bryopsis spores are in it . Anyway my other problem is my overflow there is a big hunk of algae in there and in order to clean it I have to take apart plumbing and shut the tank down for the day. I have a few fish in the tank and my hermits and snails so I can't Bleach the whole system. I am looking foward to creating a new layout now.

 

Hmm, I'm interested (because I have a lot of sand.) What exactly is the process to boil it? Did you just put it in a pot on the stove?