Reusing live rock

mitek2 · 12/21/2015, 08:15 AM

I had a lot of leftover live rock so I put it down in my sump. It was there for a couple months but I took it out to make room for other things. It has been sitting in my garage now for about a month and a half.

I want to reuse some of it but I'm not sure what to do before I put it in. Is it safe to just rinse it and put it in or do I need to treat it somehow?
I'm sure any organisms on the rock would have died by now, but I'm not really sure

Thanks!!
120gal
Softies, fish,clams, inverts
Nitrates 0
Phosphate less tgan .25
Ca 460
Alk 11

ballhog · 12/21/2015, 09:04 AM

Adding a small amount shouldn't hurt anything. However, If I wanted to add allot of uncycled rock, I would cycle it in a separate tank for a few months.

pyithar · 12/21/2015, 10:01 AM

if they're not smelly, i just rinse and put them back into the tank.

Pet Detective · 12/21/2015, 10:16 AM

Use a large plastic storage tub, fresh saltwater & a power head for a week or so, until the smell is gone...if no foul smell exists, all the dead organic material has probably become inorganic & will not produce copious amounts of ammonia, I'm just not sure if 6 weeks dry is long enough to have accomplished this.

12/21/2015, 08:15 AM	#1
mitek2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bradenton Florida Posts: 62	Reusing live rock I had a lot of leftover live rock so I put it down in my sump. It was there for a couple months but I took it out to make room for other things. It has been sitting in my garage now for about a month and a half. I want to reuse some of it but I'm not sure what to do before I put it in. Is it safe to just rinse it and put it in or do I need to treat it somehow? I'm sure any organisms on the rock would have died by now, but I'm not really sure Thanks!! 120gal Softies, fish,clams, inverts Nitrates 0 Phosphate less tgan .25 Ca 460 Alk 11

12/21/2015, 10:01 AM	#3
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	if they're not smelly, i just rinse and put them back into the tank. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

12/21/2015, 09:04 AM	#2
ballhog Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North of Detroit Posts: 88	Adding a small amount shouldn't hurt anything. However, If I wanted to add allot of uncycled rock, I would cycle it in a separate tank for a few months.

12/21/2015, 10:16 AM	#4
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	Use a large plastic storage tub, fresh saltwater & a power head for a week or so, until the smell is gone...if no foul smell exists, all the dead organic material has probably become inorganic & will not produce copious amounts of ammonia, I'm just not sure if 6 weeks dry is long enough to have accomplished this.