How long do you soak rocks in bleach water to kill parasites?
I am soaking some rocks that I removed from a river in order to kill any possible parasites that would hurt my fish and I was wondering, “How long I need to soak the rock before I take them out, rinse them off, and set them out to dry and let the chlorine evaporate off them?” They have been soaking for a full day now. Is that long enough?
That should be long enough, infact, I’m sure two hours would be about right. Bleach kills everything very quickly.
That’s more than long enough. Just be sure to let them sit 24+ hours, and rinse them very well. Also, if the rocks are VERY porous, do NOT bleach them, as there’s no telling what kind of anaerobic areas the bleach could have gotten into (not exposed to air), which will later leach back into the tank.
EDIT: I would excersise great caution with regard to heating rocks– any gas pockets inside the rock will expand more rapidly than the rock, and can potentially explode, sending shards of hot rock out of the oven, and through the room (as well as windows, cabinets, and people that may be near it)…
Check the last warning in the “Tips and Warnings” section: http://www.ehow.com/how_12583_make-rock-oven.html
EDIT 2: I bleach every plant that goes into my tank and have yet to lose a fish, plant, or anything else in the tank from it. As I mentioned, air exposure allows the chlorine gas to diffuse into the air, and dechlorinator will serve a similar purpose.
You could boil them instead.
Is it dangerous to boil river rocks though, I know you aren’t supposed to use them in campfires in case they explode?
That should be long enough..let them air dry or place in an oven on about 200 degrees for an hour or so. Let the rocks stand out in open air for at least 48 hours for the remaining chlorine to dissipate. Bleach will lose its toxicity after about 24 hours but I’d wait 2 days just to be safe. Some rocks are porous and if this is the case with yours, leave them out in open air (preferably outside in direct sun) for at least 3-5 days before placing in your tank.
You should use a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, keep that in mind.
Just as a precaution!
Never use bleach on any thing you plan to put in a a fish tank.