Is my live rock still live

waywaywest · 07/24/2009, 09:24 AM

Hi, during my battle against algae I took a lot of my LR out of the tank, and cleaned it up. It's been out of the tank now for six months or so, and am wondering what affect it will have on the tank now that I've put it back into the tank? Is it still "live" or will it need to cure?

I've basically replaced everything in the tank, swapping the crushed coral substrate for a 2" sand bed. All animals were re-located for 24 hours then replaced and are doing fine so far....

roblikesfish · 07/24/2009, 09:26 AM

So the Rock, has been out of water for 6+ months? Every thing on it will be dead now... Just be sure to brush off all the crap on it with a tooth brush as well as give it a nice dip in some Salt water before you place it in the tank...

If it has been out of the water.. It might stil be live but with spiders and ants and what ever

waynem · 07/24/2009, 10:23 AM

Its not live any more but once you clean it , it should be ready to go. To be safe add it in a few bits at a time and test the water as you go.

stingythingy45 · 07/24/2009, 10:53 AM

It's dead and will need to be cured in a separate container with a heater and power heads..

Michael · 07/24/2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by roblikesfish
It might stil be live but with spiders and ants and what ever

KarlBob · 07/24/2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stingythingy45
It's dead and will need to be cured in a separate container with a heater and power heads..

+1. No matter how well you shake them, and even with saltwater dips, there will still be lots of dead critters inside the rocks. Adding the dead rocks back to the tank with all of that organic matter inside is likely to disrupt your nitrogen cycle. Tossing them into a separate container, preferably with a piece of currently-live rock, and waiting for the container to cycle, is a much safer plan than re-introducing the dead rocks directly into your tank.

korth659 · 07/24/2009, 02:19 PM

i would also cure it in a separate container

07/24/2009, 09:24 AM	#1
waywaywest Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nanaimo, BC Posts: 197	Is my live rock still live Hi, during my battle against algae I took a lot of my LR out of the tank, and cleaned it up. It's been out of the tank now for six months or so, and am wondering what affect it will have on the tank now that I've put it back into the tank? Is it still "live" or will it need to cure? I've basically replaced everything in the tank, swapping the crushed coral substrate for a 2" sand bed. All animals were re-located for 24 hours then replaced and are doing fine so far.... __________________ "You're gonna need a bigger boat." Current Tank Info: 60 gallon

07/24/2009, 10:53 AM	#4
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	It's dead and will need to be cured in a separate container with a heater and power heads.. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

07/24/2009, 09:26 AM	#2
roblikesfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Saginaw Texas Posts: 39	So the Rock, has been out of water for 6+ months? Every thing on it will be dead now... Just be sure to brush off all the crap on it with a tooth brush as well as give it a nice dip in some Salt water before you place it in the tank... If it has been out of the water.. It might stil be live but with spiders and ants and what ever

07/24/2009, 10:23 AM	#3
waynem Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: What day? , what time? hmm I might have been. Posts: 435	Its not live any more but once you clean it , it should be ready to go. To be safe add it in a few bits at a time and test the water as you go.

07/24/2009, 02:19 PM	#7
korth659 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 50	i would also cure it in a separate container