How to Bleach Coral for Aquariums

Dried corals serve as a unique decorative item to enhance the natural beauty of saltwater aquariums. These attractive corals also provide additional nooks and crannies in the aquarium for your fish to swim in. If you discover dried corals on the beach and would like to add them to your aquarium, you must first remove algae and other organisms from the coral. If you already have corals in your aquarium, you must maintain their beauty through regular cleaning to prevent bacteria and other dirt from accumulating.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic buckets
  • Chlorine bleach
  • De-chlorinating solution
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Instructions

    • 1

      Thoroughly check the corals to ensure that there are no fish hiding inside. Remove the corals from the aquarium and place in a small plastic bucket filled with fresh water, for approximately an hour. Ensure that the corals are completely covered with water. Turn the corals over at every 15-minute interval to release trapped air bubbles that may be obstructing the flow of water within the coral.

    • 2

      Prepare a bleach solution in a separate plastic bucket by adding two parts of chlorine bleach to one part water. Deposit the corals in the bleach solution and soak for two hours.

    • 3

      Remove the corals from the bleach solution and discard the solution. Rinse the corals under running tap water.

    • 4

      Fill the bucket with a de-chlorinating solution and soak the corals in it for an hour. Add 5 ml of de-chlorinating solution for every 5 gallons of water. The de-chlorinating solution will remove the chlorine smell and any residual bleach from the coral, making it safe to add the corals back to your aquarium.

    • 5

      Take the corals out of the de-chlorinating solution. Air-dry for around four hours before returning them back to the aquarium.