Live rock is old....needs to be new....How????

[Sir Patrick]

My rock is on average, 16 years old and has already been cooked 3 times. It's had its battle with Mojanos forever, and is now fighting some very invasive sort of macro algea that just takes over. It needs drastic help this time around.

I would like to hear what I can do to kill, and restart this rock, clean as possible. After all these years, I am sure its bound up with alot of nutrients. Cooking isnt going to cut it, this time around.

[Sir Patrick]

Oh....forgot to mention the hydroids....colonies of hydroids.....been fighting them forever, and lost.

They need to disapear, and never come back.

[Sir Patrick]

I want this rock re-added to my new system, completely sterile.

[MizTanks]

Muraitic Acid Bath. I found this for you.
Muriatic Acid Bath - Live Rock "Rebirth" (http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/indepth-topics-disscussion/85996-muriatic-acid-bath-live-rock-rebirth.html)

[Sir Patrick]

Thx Miz- Much appreciated.

[msumatt]

It looks like you already have an answer, but in case you wanted other options, hydrogen peroxide helps. Just bathe the rock in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide (enough so that it bubbles within seconds of you adding the rock), and leave it in there about 3 minutes. Bacteria should have enough protective enzymes like catalase and peroxidase to survive that short of an exposure but more macroscopic organisms like flatworms and macroalgae will die off. It wiped out my hair algae problem out though I should mention that for about a week it looks like you did nothing, but after that, the hair algae ( if you have it) will turn a light green and sluff off. I didn't mention it, but a rinse step is necessary especially if you have a small tank, don't want that peroxide in your tank! Hope that helps :). Almost forgot, zoas/palys and mushrooms can survive the dip as well, but was too chicken to try it on any sort of stony coral.

[CalmSeasQuest]

If you didn't want to mess with Muriatic acid, Vinegar also works - It will also dissolve the outer layer of the rock, it just takes a bit longer but is much safer/easier to work with. Follow up the Vinegar with SeaKlear (lanthanum chloride) to remove remaining phosphates.