How do I clean DEAD coral to add to my goldfish tank?

Answer 1

Soaking in a dilute bleach solution (5%) for 15 minutes is the easiest way to be certain that all disease-causing organisms will be destroyed. There are bacteria that encapsulate and the protective "shell" they create is immune to changes in temperature and pH. Bleach is primarily chlorine (will dissipate into the air in 24 hrs) and hydroxide (oxygen and hydrogen), so if you let it air dry for a day or so, there won't be any trace of the bleach left. Chlorine is also photoreactive, so let pieces dry in sunlight. You should turn the pieces a few times in the bleach solution to make sure there are no air bubbles that prevent the bleach from reaching all surfaces.

Short of bleach, cleaning them in a pressure cooker will kill all the organisms you don't want. This requires a temperature of 250oF at 15 lbs/sq inch pressure for 15 minnutes to ensure the complete sterilization (you can't get that temperature just by boiling the water).

Boiling hot water may not kill all of the bacteria, but can still kill quite a few. So would soaking in hydrogen peroxide then rinsing well.

Purchased coral for aquarium use should only need rinsed to remove dust.

But, I'd wonder why you're adding this (and how much) to a goldfish tank. Coral is a mix of carbonate materials, mostly calcium carbonate. The coral (and sea shells, as these are the same materials) will dissolve in your tank. This will raise your hardness (not a problem unless you're keeping species that require soft water) as well as the pH. The constant fluctuation of the pH from the tank water with the coral (higher) and the water source (lower) every time you do a water change may be something to which your goldfish may not be able to adapt.

If there's a reason to raise your pH, a mesh bag with a small amount of coral (1/4 cup or so) in the filter where the water will pass through it better is best, but you should decrease the volume (and increase the frequency) of water changes so the pH doesn't fluctuate too drastically.

Answer 2

The simplest way would be to soak the coral in 3 parts bleach 9 parts water for a couple hours, then transfer to fresh water and soak for another hour, then rinse, then let dry in the sun. When the coral is completly dry, rinse again (to remove any bleach resins(sp?).

After that the coral should be ready for your tank...

Answer 3

Drop it in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes, allow it to cool before adding it to the tank. bleach will harm your system, killing off all of the good bacteria that break down the fish's waste. It is difficult to rinse all of the bleach out of something as pourus as dead coral.

Answer 4

When I added coral to my cichlid tank I boiled the pieces in a pan of water for about 15 minutes then let it cool and rinsed them with cold water. Coral can effect the ph of your water so I dont suggest adding it if your fish are sensitive to changes

Answer 5

This sounds crazy, but it's very easy, and very safe.

Soak the dead coral in bleach and hot water. Make sure you use PURE bleach for this, not scented, etc.

Rinse the coral well.

Then soak it in water with a good chlorine remover in it. This will make sure that all the bleach is off of it.

I've done it tons of times. It's totally safe.

Answer 6

the suited element to do could be to take each and every thing out and cleanse it with heat water and aquarium salt (or canning / pickling salt with out ingredients) - rinse each and every thing properly after scrubbing. do no longer use cleaners. Then right this moment commence cycling the tank back (use a micro organism starter to help) and persist with the guidelines on that.

Answer 7

personally i think bleach is too harsh i would use milton baby bottle sterilizer soak it for an hour or so no need to rinse its safe enuf for babies but u could rinse in boiling water if u wanted.

Answer 8

soak in bleach for 2 hrs then run cold water over it for 5 mins to remove any bleach resade

Answer 9

use like bleach or something other types of cleaners TRY EVERYTHING