My dad just came back from a trip to the south pacific and brought me some really nice dead coral skeletons. I want to put some in my tank but need to make sure they are safe first. I think I can bleach them, but for how long and how strong of a bleach solution. Would it just be easier to cure them like live rock in plain saltwater and monitor the water conditions? Any suggestions? Thanks
Making coral skeletons safe for aquarium use
- Thread starter Meloco14
- Start date
Aye.. man, you kinda came to the "wrong" place, seeing as how so many folks specialize in the living thing, but let me help you with this.
Bleach them with chlorine bleach, a ratio of approximately 1 cup per 2 gallons should suffice. Overnight at least, but they may need more than one dip. No, they cannot be cured like live rock because, unlike live rock there is nothing left to "cure" (and thusly require removal) on them.
I strongly suggest having a bit of sodium thiosulfate on hand, simply because we haven't had good strong sun going on lately. Just Google it, you'll find a couple of chemical supply houses that sell what is a relatively HUGE amount for a very small price. It is in granular form, and is very concentrated in this form.
And maybe, possibly (I know this is difficult because I have the same trouble with my folks) you can discourage him from bringing you such items, and maybe instead bring native artwork crafted from non-threatened resources?
In any event, do what I've outlined and you should be golden.
Bleach them with chlorine bleach, a ratio of approximately 1 cup per 2 gallons should suffice. Overnight at least, but they may need more than one dip. No, they cannot be cured like live rock because, unlike live rock there is nothing left to "cure" (and thusly require removal) on them.
I strongly suggest having a bit of sodium thiosulfate on hand, simply because we haven't had good strong sun going on lately. Just Google it, you'll find a couple of chemical supply houses that sell what is a relatively HUGE amount for a very small price. It is in granular form, and is very concentrated in this form.
And maybe, possibly (I know this is difficult because I have the same trouble with my folks) you can discourage him from bringing you such items, and maybe instead bring native artwork crafted from non-threatened resources?
In any event, do what I've outlined and you should be golden.
i didnt think of boiling, maybe that would be an easy alternative to bleaching. As far as taking an endangered resource, I didn't even think of that... I don't want to support any acts that threaten our oceans, in fact I am a marine biology major and plan to go into an environmental preservation career. However, he picked these pieces up off the beach, so I don't see too much wrong with that. They were already dead and not acting as homes for any other organisms, except for maybe some bacteria or beach inhabiting microfauna...
Whenever I have had to do this to coral skeletons for tanks I allways accually do both. I boil the corals for a bit then bleach in a manner very similar to what seamadain said. I have had great results with this method, and it may be a little redundant but I am anal about making sure it is safe.
PS I don't agree with taking corals off the reef to bleach but have no problem with using ones that are found on the beach etc.
PS I don't agree with taking corals off the reef to bleach but have no problem with using ones that are found on the beach etc.
Agreed, found on the beach should be no problem. Go to certain other boards, though, and you might be ripped a new one.
Yes, bleaching is just a bucket, and just last night my own mother (my own mother!) put a pot of water to boil and promptly walked away and forgot it. FORTUNATELY for her, her diligent daughter was nearby.
(And if you knew what the momma-san did for a living, you'd be as surprised as I was. :lol
In any event, the coral can and should be easily cleaned. Unlike our beaches around here I would expect little pollution contamination from wherever it came from, and that's the biggest issue beyond biological that can't adequately be addressed by bleaching or boiling.
Yes, bleaching is just a bucket, and just last night my own mother (my own mother!) put a pot of water to boil and promptly walked away and forgot it. FORTUNATELY for her, her diligent daughter was nearby.
(And if you knew what the momma-san did for a living, you'd be as surprised as I was. :lolIn any event, the coral can and should be easily cleaned. Unlike our beaches around here I would expect little pollution contamination from wherever it came from, and that's the biggest issue beyond biological that can't adequately be addressed by bleaching or boiling.
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