Lava Rocks with calcium? How to clean?

[pwnichols]

Hi Everyone... I looked through the threads but found nothing so...

I bought a collection of lava rock from a past aquarist and there is a white residue on them. Mostly on the sides that were in the substrate. I think she also had a bunch of coral with them in the freshwater tank.

Is vinegar the best way to clean these up? Any suggestions are appreciated!

My pH runs low (6.6) so any residue left would be ok I'm sure, but they do not look very good with the residue.

Thanks for your help!

 

[King Fisher]

You could soak it in vinegar then try to scrub it off or chip it off with a flathead screwdriver.

 

[TMaier]

Stiff wire brush or wire grinding wheel.

 

[PJ_fishkeeper]

I used vinegar to clean mine then I rinse it with my tank water on water change day. Then I boil the lava rock. Also before boilling the lava rock I would chip away those white areas or use a wire brush to remove as much of that white stuff as you can.
I use lava rock as my bio media in my filters for my tanks, all I do is boil them to clean them and use a wire brush. If I have to I will chip away bad pieces of the lava rock.

 

[pwnichols]

Thanks for the advice!

Guess it all comes down to softening the calcium and then scraping or wire brush. I'll get on it and submit my results. Thanks again to all of you.