How to bring Dry Rock to Live Rock?

Birdhawk23 · 01/09/2012, 12:18 PM

So I recently got the chance to pick up about 100 extra pounds of really nice Rock for my reef. Unfortunately its been dried out for some time now. The previous owner told me he pressure sprayed it to clean it out as much as possible before he put it in a tote to keep it. It's nice and white, doesn't have to bad of a smell to it, but you can tell where it use to be covered in life. Can somebody help me out to tell me what it is I do next with this rock?
Do I need to get some chemicals for it? Or can I just let it sit in my Sump for a while? Or Can I even just put it straight in?
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated guys!

wipe · 01/09/2012, 12:27 PM

How about adding your old water from a water changes and a heater and powerhead to the tote. Let it clean off a bit and add a few pieces every few days. Give it a smell check first. Go slow, if in doubt throw it out.

ReeferEric · 01/09/2012, 01:15 PM

I would do what wipe suggested. Put it in a bin and use your old water to help it cycle, after that if you want to seed them then take one of your live rocks and place it in the bucket. Soon after you will have live rocks. That's if you not in a rush, I would recommend this to prevent any transfer of bugs or any unwanted growth.

SkullV · 01/09/2012, 01:33 PM

Don't use old water in your new tank. Might as well just pour some nitrate and phosphate in a fresh tank. There is little to no bacteria in the water column. Just put a couple pieces of live rock in with your dry rock and you will be cycled in a few weeks. DO do water changes during the cycle, DO run your skimmer during the cycle. That will keep you from having a huge nutrient issue before you even get started.

Playa-1 · 01/09/2012, 01:42 PM

I would find out more about how it was pressure washed before proceeding. If it was done at a self serve car wash, then I would not use it. (many of these locations use chemicals in the water tanks, even for hi pressure rinse) If it was done with a personal pressure washer or garden hose then it will likely be fine to use. I would put it in a clean container and cycle it just like you would a new tank. Once it's completely cycled then it should be good to go. It might be wise to test for copper after the cycle before introducing it to your system.

Birdhawk23 · 01/09/2012, 02:20 PM

Thanks a bunch guys!
First off, it was pressure washed by the guys own personal pressure washer so no chemicals from a car wash.
Taking your guys suggestions in mind, I am going to add some of the less attractive pieces to a 30 gallon double stack in the top tank. Let it run for a few days. Would it work if I put my current Live Rock in the bottom 30 gallon which is the sump? Or do you suggest just intermixing it in the top tank with the Dry rock?
I am in no rush at all, I have "enough" LR in my display tank, but I want to add more to add some good character and hiding places for the fish.
Question; by seeding it does that mean just adding my LR? Or do I need to purchase some sort of actual seeds?
And what are some specific signs I should look for that are telling me this Dry rock is bad?

rogermccray · 01/09/2012, 02:22 PM

If it were me i would let it soak in some RO/DI and bleach for a few hours, then rinse it an RO/DI bath a few times.

Then either seed it with some live rock in a separate container or slowly add it to your sump, one piece at a time (a few pieces if the rock is small), adding a new piece every few weeks.

spazdic · 01/09/2012, 02:56 PM

I am going to have rock I just let dry out for 3 months from an old tank in my new build. I am just cycling the tank with it and the live rock in my other 92 gallon. I am expecting a little bit of a nutrient cycle but not much. Does anyone think that's a bad idea if i just let it dry out then soak it and rinse a few times in RO/DI?

Birdhawk23 · 01/10/2012, 09:33 AM

Haha so I have couple different options according to your guys suggestions...
1. Use my current water out of my DT to seed the LR.
2. Pour Nitrate and Phosphate in the tank.
@SkullV How much do you recommend? I'm using a 30 gallon for the rock.
3. Bleach and RO/DI bath, and then slowly add to my sump.

So do you think that one of these options are normally more successful than the other? Because I have 3 separate 30 gallons and I'm contemplating trying all 3 of these to see which is the most successful way of bringing this rock to life. However, I definitely don't wanna try one of these if its doomed for failure and will send my whole tank into a cycle..

Birdhawk23 · 01/11/2012, 11:24 AM

Anyone have any other suggestions!?

spankdog · 01/11/2012, 11:27 AM

I dont know if this will work but its what I am doing with my new tank. I put a few pieces of my new rock into my old tank. These pieces will be in my old tank for probably two months till i get the new tank up and running. Once the new tank is up i am going to place the pieces from my old tank into the new tank and hopefully that will do it.

Birdhawk23 · 01/11/2012, 01:05 PM

I guess I plan on today start transferring some of my old water in with some new water and go from there to see what will happen

tmc1313 · 01/11/2012, 02:01 PM

I would put it in a bin, fill it with fresh made saltwater and let it sit for a few days. Then, check to see if the rock is leaching phosphates. If so, it would be easier and better to treat it right in the bin rather than once it's in the tank.

tmc1313 · 01/11/2012, 02:06 PM

I would put it in a bin, fill it with fresh made saltwater and let it sit for a few days. Then, check to see if the rock is leaching phosphates. If so, it would be easier and better to treat it right in the bin rather than once it's in the tank. Once treated, if needed, then start seeding it.

01/09/2012, 12:18 PM	#1
Birdhawk23 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 153	How to bring Dry Rock to Live Rock? So I recently got the chance to pick up about 100 extra pounds of really nice Rock for my reef. Unfortunately its been dried out for some time now. The previous owner told me he pressure sprayed it to clean it out as much as possible before he put it in a tote to keep it. It's nice and white, doesn't have to bad of a smell to it, but you can tell where it use to be covered in life. Can somebody help me out to tell me what it is I do next with this rock? Do I need to get some chemicals for it? Or can I just let it sit in my Sump for a while? Or Can I even just put it straight in? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated guys!

01/09/2012, 12:27 PM	#2
wipe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nw side Chicago IL Posts: 340	How about adding your old water from a water changes and a heater and powerhead to the tote. Let it clean off a bit and add a few pieces every few days. Give it a smell check first. Go slow, if in doubt throw it out. __________________ Water changes ....We don't need no stinking water changes. Current Tank Info: 220 + 120 lit by 3 radion's 300gal stocktank basement sump asm G4+ skimmer

01/09/2012, 01:33 PM	#4
SkullV They Got My Number Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 6,898	Don't use old water in your new tank. Might as well just pour some nitrate and phosphate in a fresh tank. There is little to no bacteria in the water column. Just put a couple pieces of live rock in with your dry rock and you will be cycled in a few weeks. DO do water changes during the cycle, DO run your skimmer during the cycle. That will keep you from having a huge nutrient issue before you even get started. __________________ -Ted- Be cautious of those willing to share their "knowledge" but not their results.

01/10/2012, 09:33 AM	#9
Birdhawk23 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 153	Haha so I have couple different options according to your guys suggestions... 1. Use my current water out of my DT to seed the LR. 2. Pour Nitrate and Phosphate in the tank. @SkullV How much do you recommend? I'm using a 30 gallon for the rock. 3. Bleach and RO/DI bath, and then slowly add to my sump. So do you think that one of these options are normally more successful than the other? Because I have 3 separate 30 gallons and I'm contemplating trying all 3 of these to see which is the most successful way of bringing this rock to life. However, I definitely don't wanna try one of these if its doomed for failure and will send my whole tank into a cycle.. Last edited by Birdhawk23; 01/10/2012 at 09:37 AM. Reason: Accidentally clicked the enter key to soon, whoops!

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01/09/2012, 01:15 PM	#3
ReeferEric Moved On Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: S. FL Posts: 65	I would do what wipe suggested. Put it in a bin and use your old water to help it cycle, after that if you want to seed them then take one of your live rocks and place it in the bucket. Soon after you will have live rocks. That's if you not in a rush, I would recommend this to prevent any transfer of bugs or any unwanted growth.

01/09/2012, 01:42 PM	#5
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I would find out more about how it was pressure washed before proceeding. If it was done at a self serve car wash, then I would not use it. (many of these locations use chemicals in the water tanks, even for hi pressure rinse) If it was done with a personal pressure washer or garden hose then it will likely be fine to use. I would put it in a clean container and cycle it just like you would a new tank. Once it's completely cycled then it should be good to go. It might be wise to test for copper after the cycle before introducing it to your system.

01/09/2012, 02:20 PM	#6
Birdhawk23 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 153	Thanks a bunch guys! First off, it was pressure washed by the guys own personal pressure washer so no chemicals from a car wash. Taking your guys suggestions in mind, I am going to add some of the less attractive pieces to a 30 gallon double stack in the top tank. Let it run for a few days. Would it work if I put my current Live Rock in the bottom 30 gallon which is the sump? Or do you suggest just intermixing it in the top tank with the Dry rock? I am in no rush at all, I have "enough" LR in my display tank, but I want to add more to add some good character and hiding places for the fish. Question; by seeding it does that mean just adding my LR? Or do I need to purchase some sort of actual seeds? And what are some specific signs I should look for that are telling me this Dry rock is bad?

01/09/2012, 02:22 PM	#7
rogermccray Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,050	If it were me i would let it soak in some RO/DI and bleach for a few hours, then rinse it an RO/DI bath a few times. Then either seed it with some live rock in a separate container or slowly add it to your sump, one piece at a time (a few pieces if the rock is small), adding a new piece every few weeks.

01/09/2012, 02:56 PM	#8
spazdic Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 14	I am going to have rock I just let dry out for 3 months from an old tank in my new build. I am just cycling the tank with it and the live rock in my other 92 gallon. I am expecting a little bit of a nutrient cycle but not much. Does anyone think that's a bad idea if i just let it dry out then soak it and rinse a few times in RO/DI?

01/11/2012, 11:24 AM	#10
Birdhawk23 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 153	Anyone have any other suggestions!?

01/11/2012, 11:27 AM	#11
spankdog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Atlanta Posts: 108	I dont know if this will work but its what I am doing with my new tank. I put a few pieces of my new rock into my old tank. These pieces will be in my old tank for probably two months till i get the new tank up and running. Once the new tank is up i am going to place the pieces from my old tank into the new tank and hopefully that will do it.

01/11/2012, 01:05 PM	#12
Birdhawk23 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 153	I guess I plan on today start transferring some of my old water in with some new water and go from there to see what will happen

01/11/2012, 02:01 PM	#13
tmc1313 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, Connecticut Posts: 1,530	I would put it in a bin, fill it with fresh made saltwater and let it sit for a few days. Then, check to see if the rock is leaching phosphates. If so, it would be easier and better to treat it right in the bin rather than once it's in the tank.

01/11/2012, 02:06 PM	#14
tmc1313 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, Connecticut Posts: 1,530	I would put it in a bin, fill it with fresh made saltwater and let it sit for a few days. Then, check to see if the rock is leaching phosphates. If so, it would be easier and better to treat it right in the bin rather than once it's in the tank. Once treated, if needed, then start seeding it.