old rock????

f19 · 12/01/2012, 09:16 AM

my question is,,,, i have old rock that has been in my garage in a rubbermaid container for around 8yrs... it was in a 55 gal tank before i broke that down.. i am going to restart a tank and would like to get some livesand and reuse some of this old rock , should i put live sand and this old rock in a tank alone and cure it for a few weeks?? please help

Mark Bianco · 12/01/2012, 11:23 AM

IMHO First wash it with water then give it a bath of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water then rinse it a couple of times with plain water. After that just go ahead with hte cycle process.

on the spot · 12/01/2012, 11:35 AM

As Mark suggests, a good cleaning is in order. This post offers good advice and directions.

sporto0 · 12/01/2012, 07:22 PM

It doesn't need to cure, there is no die off that would produce ammonia, it's fine to use as is, I wish people would explain what what they mean when the overused, hackneyed term "cured" is thrown about constantly when referring to rocks, live or otherwise, in saltwater tanks. I would definetly AVOID bleaching any rock unless it was so full of detritus or hair algae (which obviously is not the case here) that no other option was viable. "Curing" rock is only needed when "true" live rock is out of water for more than 24-48 hours & die off from the "live" critters & or fauna that was living in or on them produce ammonia in large amounts that could overwhelm your existing denitrifying bacteria colony. Your dry rock will once again become live" if you purchase a few lbs. of live rock from your LFS & place it in with your existing rock.

f19 · 12/02/2012, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the replies.. yea,,,I Def. Will.stay away from bleaching the rock.. I may just rinse it off,there's a lot of powdery stuff on it.. then I'm thinking of getting live sand and some live rock and putting in tank and monitor it..

12/01/2012, 09:16 AM	#1
f19 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	old rock???? my question is,,,, i have old rock that has been in my garage in a rubbermaid container for around 8yrs... it was in a 55 gal tank before i broke that down.. i am going to restart a tank and would like to get some livesand and reuse some of this old rock , should i put live sand and this old rock in a tank alone and cure it for a few weeks?? please help

12/01/2012, 11:23 AM	#2
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	IMHO First wash it with water then give it a bath of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water then rinse it a couple of times with plain water. After that just go ahead with hte cycle process.

12/01/2012, 11:35 AM	#3
on the spot Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,010	As Mark suggests, a good cleaning is in order. This post offers good advice and directions.

12/01/2012, 07:22 PM	#4
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	It doesn't need to cure, there is no die off that would produce ammonia, it's fine to use as is, I wish people would explain what what they mean when the overused, hackneyed term "cured" is thrown about constantly when referring to rocks, live or otherwise, in saltwater tanks. I would definetly AVOID bleaching any rock unless it was so full of detritus or hair algae (which obviously is not the case here) that no other option was viable. "Curing" rock is only needed when "true" live rock is out of water for more than 24-48 hours & die off from the "live" critters & or fauna that was living in or on them produce ammonia in large amounts that could overwhelm your existing denitrifying bacteria colony. Your dry rock will once again become live" if you purchase a few lbs. of live rock from your LFS & place it in with your existing rock.

12/02/2012, 08:23 AM	#5
f19 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	Thanks for the replies.. yea,,,I Def. Will.stay away from bleaching the rock.. I may just rinse it off,there's a lot of powdery stuff on it.. then I'm thinking of getting live sand and some live rock and putting in tank and monitor it..