what happens to LR in stagnant saltwater for a year?

[mattnano]

I left about 30 lbs of live rock in a bucket for over a year now and was wondering chemically what happend to it, the bucket was closed and no light got in so all the algae has died off. I have been doing 100% h2O changes with water from a established tank will that make it ok to use eventually?

[socalreefer73]

chemically, nothing. If it's sealed and no toxins were in the water (heavy metals, soaps, oils from the garage, etc.) It should be good..

You'll know it's good and cured when it no longer smells like raw sewage...

I'd put a heater in there and a powerhead to help keep it oxygenated and at temperature where the bacteria from your tank will thrive and as much as it smells, you're going to have to keep the lid off the rock so it can aspirate...

Just one question, why did you leave it sealed in a bucket for over a year?

I'm no chemist though.. I'm not quite certain what chemicals will form from rotting that long besides H2S --

Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless gas with a characteristic odor of rotten eggs. It is commonly known as hydrosulfuric acid, sewer gas, and stink damp. People can smell it at low levels.

hth

[HBtank]

Yeh, when in doubt, use your nose as a first indicator

And some test kits on the new water they are in (they would need to be in it for a couple days or more) to see if ammonia/nitrite is still being produced.