Back in the Game

[Rocktuna]

This rock has no life left on it It was outside for a couple years. I soaked it in fresh water for a few days to loosen any junk up and then shook it vigorously in one bucket to remove any junk then shook it in another bucket. Seems good now.

[fatman]

I do not think I am being over cautious when I say worrying about the use of copper by the previous tank owner is probably in order. Especially if he kept a dirty tank as you stated. There is a good article on this site http://www.livingreefs.com/articles/...-rock-t387.php about removing copper from rock. It will also remove any and all grunge as it actually dissolves away some of the outer layer of the rock. It also works with any carbonate based sands, such as aragonite or crushed coral sand. It only makes sense with the rock being dead rock to go a head and be assured it is rock that is both physically clean and copper free. Corals and invertebrates will not tolerate copper. It is one way of being safe that doesn'y involve much effort or money.

[Rocktuna]

Thanks Fatman

Sounds like a good idea and being a Mason I actually have Muriatic Acid around.

The guy who had the tank before me was a bit of a no brainer guy. He didn't want to paint the back of the tank so he hung a piece of blue plexi glass on the back......WITH METAL HOOKS there are rust stains on the top of the tank. He kept wondering why he couldn't keep inverts. I didn't have the heart to tell him.

[fatman]

All that iron sure made it easy to grow algae I imagine.