Contaminated Live Rock....

[doTheEvolution]

I bought a CADLights 39Gallon tank from someone on Craigslist yesterday and he gave me about 30lbs. of "premium" live rock. Unfortunately, he really let his tank go and it was infested with huge bristle worms and others I have never seen before. He also mentioned that his Blue Tang had Ich, but that it just "went away." I tossed the live sand he gave me, it was full of these worms, and the live rock is in a bin with a pump and heater.

My question is... would it be a good idea to "nuke" or boil the rock? I have a ton of other rock that I can use to seed when I cycle it. I wouldn't want to introduce this into my current system or start a tank with these worms already present. Any ideas??

Thanks for your help guys.
:beer:

 

[toromp]

My tang had ich, all I did was set up a uv sterilizer and it went away in 2 days..

For the worms I would get a worm trap.. forget the hassel of boiling rock then re seeding..

 

[wickedfish]

Dang that stinks! I would boil it or leave it out and then place it into a pure vinegar bath after a week. There's muratic acid and bleach. But a pressure wash and some outside for a week will kill all that crap.

Now you have the issue of phosphate and ammonia leeching. But I would think a vinegar bath for a few days will kill all things dead and the leave it in pure water.

I would start from dry rock and one or two good LR from a store you trust.


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[doTheEvolution]

Dang that stinks! I would boil it or leave it out and then place it into a pure vinegar bath after a week. There's muratic acid and bleach. But a pressure wash and some outside for a week will kill all that crap.

Now you have the issue of phosphate and ammonia leeching. But I would think a vinegar bath for a few days will kill all things dead and the leave it in pure water.

I would start from dry rock and one or two good LR from a store you trust.


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Thanks, that's what I am leaning towards. I have a about 200 lbs. of live rock in my 90Gallon that is pest free.

My tang had ich, all I did was set up a uv sterilizer and it went away in 2 days..

For the worms I would get a worm trap.. forget the hassel of boiling rock then re seeding..

Honestly, I don't think a worm trap would do the trick. These rocks are completely infested with huge worms. I'm also afraid that he might have used some medication to treat the fish for Ich.

 

[BeanMachine]

I bought a CADLights 39Gallon tank from someone on Craigslist yesterday and he gave me about 30lbs. of "premium" live rock. Unfortunately, he really let his tank go and it was infested with huge bristle worms and others I have never seen before. He also mentioned that his Blue Tang had Ich, but that it just "went away." I tossed the live sand he gave me, it was full of these worms, and the live rock is in a bin with a pump and heater.

My question is... would it be a good idea to "nuke" or boil the rock? I have a ton of other rock that I can use to seed when I cycle it. I wouldn't want to introduce this into my current system or start a tank with these worms already present. Any ideas??

Thanks for your help guys.
:beer:

Why would you want to do that? Bristleworms are harmless detrivores that are good for your tank.

Ich needs a host fish... its remotely possible the ich in the system. Just leave the tank empty for 6 weeks if you are concerned about ich.

The only reason i would cook or dry out rock would be to elimimate pest algae or aiptasia.

 

[xxtechxx]

leave it out in the sun and just let it dry up completely. then you can just use them. not worth putting rocks in and end up with a eunicid worm in your tank.

 

[BeanMachine]

My tang had ich, all I did was set up a uv sterilizer and it went away in 2 days..

For the worms I would get a worm trap.. forget the hassel of boiling rock then re seeding..

Most likely the ich is still in your system. Sometimes ich on tangs comes and go... ive also read most already have it before they reach your system.

 

[BeanMachine]

leave it out in the sun and just let it dry up completely. then you can just use them. not worth putting rocks in and end up with a eunicid worm in your tank.

Those aren't that common, is that what you have OP? What do they look like?

 

[Tangwich]

even the sand would still be good..you just had to thoroughly clean it/rinse it with ro water and then get a cup or 2 of live sand from someone else's tank to "seed" yours.

 

[Cmartin]

ive put rocks in fresh water overnight. That kills all the hitch hickers just shake it around in the water and everything falls off

 

[doTheEvolution]

Why would you want to do that? Bristleworms are harmless detrivores that are good for your tank.

Ich needs a host fish... its remotely possible the ich in the system. Just leave the tank empty for 6 weeks if you are concerned about ich.

The only reason i would cook or dry out rock would be to elimimate pest algae or aiptasia.

Actually, he did mention that he had problem with hair algae. I will post some pictures of the of the worms. They may not all be bristle worms.

 

[BeanMachine]

ive put rocks in fresh water overnight. That kills all the hitch hickers just shake it around in the water and everything falls off

But wouldn't this also kill the beneficial bacteria?

 

[doTheEvolution]

But wouldn't this also kill the beneficial bacteria?

That wouldn't be an issue, I have about 60 lbs of live rock in a 20 gallon bin right now that I can use to seed.

 

[wickedfish]

Pressure wash with hot water then.


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[SEAMONSTER]

I had the same problem with ich and creepy crawlies. I just boiled the rock and killed everything. It's better than taking a chance, especially if medications were used. Ich DOES NOT GO AWAY IN 2 DAYS. The 6 week thing is not long enough. I tried that too, ran my tank for 6 months with no fish, still had ich in it, even with a uv sterilizer. Boil it and start over, it will save you a lot of headaches.

 

[chunkypeanutlove]

Im pretty much in this position. I started a tank with dry rock and new clean sand. I decided to seed my tank with sand and rock from some jerk on here. He claimed it was all clean. Put the rock and sand in my tank at night when i got it and woke up in the morning to a nice aipista farm. I have over 500 in my 46g bowfront. I bough around 6 bergs and did a slow 3 hour drip acclimation...

Sadly, they did nothing. They have been in there 1 month. I saw them come out at night and eat but they were just over ran by the vast amount. Im at my wits end and tomorrow I will probably just tear it down and start over.

Two questions, how long should i boil each of the rocks? How do i kill everything on the sand, yes i have tons of aipistas on the sand, and lastly how to i get them off coral? I have a some frag with aipistas on them and a red monti cap attached to a frag square with a lot of them wedged between the square and cap, how shall i remove those?

 

[danagui]

if u think he used a copper based medication throw the rock out....live rock absorbs it like a sponge and will slowly release it into ur tank....not worth the risk

I had the same problem with ich and creepy crawlies. I just boiled the rock and killed everything. It's better than taking a chance, especially if medications were used. Ich DOES NOT GO AWAY IN 2 DAYS. The 6 week thing is not long enough. I tried that too, ran my tank for 6 months with no fish, still had ich in it, even with a uv sterilizer. Boil it and start over, it will save you a lot of headaches.

 

[happaman]

Why would you want to do that? Bristleworms are harmless detrivores that are good for your tank.

Ich needs a host fish... its remotely possible the ich in the system. Just leave the tank empty for 6 weeks if you are concerned about ich.

The only reason i would cook or dry out rock would be to elimimate pest algae or aiptasia.

+1; I've had bristleworms more than a foot long. Ugly as hell but not everything on the reef is all pretty and nice.

 

[aaajv]

How long do you boil the rock to sterilize it?

 

[Molli]

be really careful boiling porous rocks. They can explode. It's very unsafe, I'm surprised people still recommend it. Give them a vinegar bath instead.