Old Man's Beard - picked from beach

[jfmkem82]

I was in SC last week and while beachcombing I came across several pieces of what the web tells me is called Old Man's Beard. It is dead, but I'm thinking it might look interesting in my reef tank.

Any thoughts? I've heard people here talk about "dipping" corals before introducing them to their tanks. I'm fairly new to the hobby and don't exactly know what people are "dipping" their corals in?

It is brownish in color and has a sponge / velvety feel to it.
Any help?

Generic picture ....
View attachment 21531

 

[jrpark22000]

There are a couple different "dips" usually iodine based to bayer insectidice. I'm not sure the makeup of old mans beard so not sure if it'd melt in vinegar as that's a way of cooking organic material from rocks.

 

[trackfast]

I use Bayer when dipping but IDK if that's what you should use for something like this. I would put it in a bucket with heat and aeration and observe it for a few weeks. I wouldn't put it in a tank until I knew it wouldn't dissolve immediately.