how to bring dead rock alive

pepino · 07/13/2008, 10:33 AM

i have like 5 pieces of rock, that i got on an old set up. i clean them really good and let them dry, i want to bring them back alive so i can put them on my frag tank. how do i bring them back alive???
thanks

Deprecated · 07/13/2008, 10:38 AM

Seed the dead rock with rock that is currently "living". This can be accomplished by placing it in the same tank, over time the rock will come back to life.

pepino · 07/13/2008, 10:41 AM

will do thanks alot deprecated

Sk8r · 07/13/2008, 10:44 AM

That's right. You might want to do it in a separate tank, to avoid problems of algae, etc. Just get a Rubbermaid Brute trashcan, put the "old" rock in proper saltwater with some pieces of live rock, aerate, lid, and wait, checking the salinity for evaporation (Lidded, not so much) It'll take, oh, a couple of months, and then you'll have proper live rock---somebody check me out here, because the only time I've done this was during tank setup, when I just put it in my tank with a couple pieces of live rock, and had a 2 month long cycle.

If you do start a tank as I did, with base rock and just a little live rock, go very slow when you do start putting in critters: it won't be as 'strong' as a tank that was all live rock forever. Don't stress it by having many big fish: hardy corals are ok: they're filter feeders and help clean the water.

heyfredyourhat · 07/13/2008, 04:10 PM

Sk8r--I used all base rock and only one piece of LR and it has been 4-5 months...I went through diatoms, cyano, and now HA....Did you happen to go through something like that as well?? And my params never went anywhere, everything was fine and is still fine...But it seems like this HA is never going to end

pepino · 07/13/2008, 04:42 PM

well i have a 58 gallons runing with about 80 pounds.
chaeto in the 20 sump with tons and tons of critters,so i think im going to placed in my sump for a whileand then transfer it to my frag tank you guys think this is a good idea i dont have room to placed the rock in the tank

mray · 07/13/2008, 04:45 PM

An advantage to seeding base rock is that you won't have any unwanted hitchhikers.

pepino · 07/13/2008, 04:50 PM

true that mray

sandsurfsd · 07/13/2008, 06:29 PM

that is very true

07/13/2008, 10:33 AM	#1
pepino Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st charles, missouri Posts: 1,105	how to bring dead rock alive i have like 5 pieces of rock, that i got on an old set up. i clean them really good and let them dry, i want to bring them back alive so i can put them on my frag tank. how do i bring them back alive??? thanks

07/13/2008, 10:44 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	That's right. You might want to do it in a separate tank, to avoid problems of algae, etc. Just get a Rubbermaid Brute trashcan, put the "old" rock in proper saltwater with some pieces of live rock, aerate, lid, and wait, checking the salinity for evaporation (Lidded, not so much) It'll take, oh, a couple of months, and then you'll have proper live rock---somebody check me out here, because the only time I've done this was during tank setup, when I just put it in my tank with a couple pieces of live rock, and had a 2 month long cycle. If you do start a tank as I did, with base rock and just a little live rock, go very slow when you do start putting in critters: it won't be as 'strong' as a tank that was all live rock forever. Don't stress it by having many big fish: hardy corals are ok: they're filter feeders and help clean the water. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/13/2008, 10:38 AM	#2
Deprecated Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: OH Posts: 64	Seed the dead rock with rock that is currently "living". This can be accomplished by placing it in the same tank, over time the rock will come back to life.

07/13/2008, 10:41 AM	#3
pepino Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st charles, missouri Posts: 1,105	will do thanks alot deprecated

07/13/2008, 04:10 PM	#5
heyfredyourhat Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 963	Sk8r--I used all base rock and only one piece of LR and it has been 4-5 months...I went through diatoms, cyano, and now HA....Did you happen to go through something like that as well?? And my params never went anywhere, everything was fine and is still fine...But it seems like this HA is never going to end

07/13/2008, 04:42 PM	#6
pepino Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st charles, missouri Posts: 1,105	well i have a 58 gallons runing with about 80 pounds. chaeto in the 20 sump with tons and tons of critters,so i think im going to placed in my sump for a whileand then transfer it to my frag tank you guys think this is a good idea i dont have room to placed the rock in the tank

07/13/2008, 04:45 PM	#7
mray Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 122	An advantage to seeding base rock is that you won't have any unwanted hitchhikers.

07/13/2008, 04:50 PM	#8
pepino Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st charles, missouri Posts: 1,105	true that mray

07/13/2008, 06:29 PM	#9
sandsurfsd Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 41	that is very true