live rock...can i use it how do i get it ready??

michaeltwana · 12/17/2006, 01:51 PM

i have this live rock that has been sitting in a tub, about 100 pounds, in saltwater around 60-70 degrees for the last three months with no light just fill up the water and have a pump...my question is that i want to use this stuff can i? and how should i get it ready to use??

sir_dudeguy · 12/17/2006, 02:18 PM

yes you can, but you might have to just re-cycle it. Will it be for a new tank? If so, the first thing you should do is set it up in the tank with saltwater and let it sit. Test the water and see if there is amonia and nitrite. If there is, then just let it go with the system running normally like it would. It will eventually cycle (cure) and be ready...anywhere from like 3 weeks to a month or 2.

If there is NO amonia or nitrite, then maybe you would want to throw in a dead shrimp (or at least fish food) to get the amonia going, and then once there is amonia take the shrimp out and then again, just let it go on its own.

AquaReeferMan · 12/17/2006, 02:19 PM

Test the water in the tub. If its zeros you can just take the rock out and put it in your tank. If the water is bad I would make new water for the tub. Then take all the LR out, shaking each piece in the water, and place it down on a trash bag. Then do a 50% water change. Place the LR back in the container. Let it sit for a couple of days and test the water again. Once it hits zeros you can use it. Im guessing its going into an established tank right? If not you can just put it into a new tank and kick start a cycle.

AquaReeferMan · 12/17/2006, 02:21 PM

lol sir_dudeguy both thinking the same thing.

12/17/2006, 01:51 PM	#1
michaeltwana Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: north dakota Posts: 267	live rock...can i use it how do i get it ready?? i have this live rock that has been sitting in a tub, about 100 pounds, in saltwater around 60-70 degrees for the last three months with no light just fill up the water and have a pump...my question is that i want to use this stuff can i? and how should i get it ready to use??

12/17/2006, 02:18 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	yes you can, but you might have to just re-cycle it. Will it be for a new tank? If so, the first thing you should do is set it up in the tank with saltwater and let it sit. Test the water and see if there is amonia and nitrite. If there is, then just let it go with the system running normally like it would. It will eventually cycle (cure) and be ready...anywhere from like 3 weeks to a month or 2. If there is NO amonia or nitrite, then maybe you would want to throw in a dead shrimp (or at least fish food) to get the amonia going, and then once there is amonia take the shrimp out and then again, just let it go on its own. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/17/2006, 02:19 PM	#3
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Test the water in the tub. If its zeros you can just take the rock out and put it in your tank. If the water is bad I would make new water for the tub. Then take all the LR out, shaking each piece in the water, and place it down on a trash bag. Then do a 50% water change. Place the LR back in the container. Let it sit for a couple of days and test the water again. Once it hits zeros you can use it. Im guessing its going into an established tank right? If not you can just put it into a new tank and kick start a cycle. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

12/17/2006, 02:21 PM	#4
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	lol sir_dudeguy both thinking the same thing. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together