reusing nasty 3 year old liverock

trueflo · 10/17/2016, 09:37 PM

I have 90+lbs of (what used to be live rock) sitting in old tank water, placed in a rubber maid tub. It has been sitting there for the last 3 years. I was wondering if I HAVE to boil it? Rinse it? Or what, in order to use it to finally set my tank back up? Would it help kick start the cycle just rinsing it and placing it in the tank? Any help would be greatly appreciated. The same goes for the crushed coral substrate by the way.

Lsufan · 10/17/2016, 09:49 PM

I would get new sand but as far as the rock u definetly do not want to boil it. It will probably need a muratic acid bath. For details u can use the search function on muratic acid bath for live rock & they have a thread that gives u detailed instructions. If u decide to do it make sure u do your research because it can be dangerous if u do something wrong. If u want u can test for phosphate & if it's not high then u may be ok but I suspect it will be high & u probably need to use the acid.

tkeracer619 · 10/17/2016, 11:31 PM

I wouldn't acid bath it unless there is some bad pest on it. That rock if it's been in water,even with no flow, is probably fine.

Ditch the crushed coral for new sand.

Sinn Sage · 10/18/2016, 04:35 AM

Has the rock been sitting in the bin with no water for a while?

You may be able just to soak the rock for a week to get the nasties to come off when you pressure wash the rock.

I agree with the new sand, don't be a poor and just buy new.

Dmorty217 · 10/18/2016, 05:49 AM

Give the rock a rinse and put it in the new setup... You're way over thinking this. If it was anything other than crushed coral I would say keep that too

Ron Reefman · 10/18/2016, 05:50 AM

Just what is it that is "nasty' on this rock?

I'd put it in a Brute, fill it with freshwater, keep the lid on to keep out the light and let it soak for a week. I was surprised that many old sponges survived a month in freshwater after my tank had to be replaced. And my Brute was dark green sitting out in the 95F SW Florida sun!

d0ughb0y · 10/18/2016, 10:24 AM

Sanitize it using vinegar then bleach. You want to start with a clean slate, not with unknown stuff on the rocks.

Flaring Afro · 10/18/2016, 10:42 AM

I also would kill off anything on it. If it were dry for 3 years, the die off would help start the cycle and at worst would make it take a long time to become stable. With it being in old water though, who knows what still is alive. Spores can last a long time while in water, etc.

BlueRoofTang · 10/18/2016, 08:34 PM

Yeah, there's not going to be anything living on it if it's been dried that long. You just want to try and wash off as much of the decayed matter as you can.

I am not big on chemicals....especially those called ACID. What I have done is put the rock in a container with freshwater (why waste salt), with good movement, and soak it for weeks, doing a few water changes. I then add salt and "cure" it, putting some lighting on there until I begin to see some coralline algae grow. Then it's good to put in the display. You may have to add some coralline scrapings or throw in a small rock that has it though...to initially get some in the water.

trueflo · 10/18/2016, 09:44 PM

the rock has been sitting submerged in saltwater. i took it down to move 3 years ago and ended up never being able to set it back up until now. so that rock has never dried. i am concerned about how nasty the rock is and what i have to do to get it usable again. if i rinse and somewhat scrub the rock, if the remaining die-off on the rock, would benefit kick starting the cycle. by spiking the ammonia? I am so flippin excited to finally get this sucker back up and running. i had it custom built and i want to make sure i do things perfect this time around

trueflo · 10/18/2016, 10:02 PM

also, what is so bad about crushed coral? i have always been told that it helps buffer PH really well and that with sand, you risk having toxic gas pockets developing in the substrate that could nuke the tank. Also, isn't it a pain to clean?

R1ant04 · 10/18/2016, 10:06 PM

If there is no aptasia or mojano on the rocks, then i would just dunk the rocks in sum fresh salt water a few times n then throw n2 the display tank n give it a few wks(2-4) of testing parameters b4 adding anything.

trueflo · 10/19/2016, 03:58 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone! I think i know what i will do.

tkeracer619 · 10/19/2016, 10:44 PM

Crushed coral does not buffer anything. It traps detritus. Use sand instead.

exsequor · 10/19/2016, 10:58 PM

Ya crushed coral sucks compared to a sand bed, caribsea sand 40# bags can be had on amazon on the cheap (especially compared w/ LFS price on l.s.)

Joel_155 · 10/19/2016, 11:42 PM

I would cook it ( let it sit in fresh saltwater for a month or so with out any light) and do weekly water changes. Just to see what it starts to leach out. I actually used rock from the same situation and I ended up cooking it for almost 9 months. I think that'd overkill but I was building up equipment at the time.

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10/17/2016, 09:37 PM	#1
trueflo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 4	reusing nasty 3 year old liverock I have 90+lbs of (what used to be live rock) sitting in old tank water, placed in a rubber maid tub. It has been sitting there for the last 3 years. I was wondering if I HAVE to boil it? Rinse it? Or what, in order to use it to finally set my tank back up? Would it help kick start the cycle just rinsing it and placing it in the tank? Any help would be greatly appreciated. The same goes for the crushed coral substrate by the way.

10/17/2016, 11:31 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I wouldn't acid bath it unless there is some bad pest on it. That rock if it's been in water,even with no flow, is probably fine. Ditch the crushed coral for new sand. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/18/2016, 04:35 AM	#4
Sinn Sage Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 53	Has the rock been sitting in the bin with no water for a while? You may be able just to soak the rock for a week to get the nasties to come off when you pressure wash the rock. I agree with the new sand, don't be a poor and just buy new. __________________ Sinn

10/18/2016, 05:49 AM	#5
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Give the rock a rinse and put it in the new setup... You're way over thinking this. If it was anything other than crushed coral I would say keep that too __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

10/18/2016, 05:50 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Just what is it that is "nasty' on this rock? I'd put it in a Brute, fill it with freshwater, keep the lid on to keep out the light and let it soak for a week. I was surprised that many old sponges survived a month in freshwater after my tank had to be replaced. And my Brute was dark green sitting out in the 95F SW Florida sun! __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/17/2016, 09:49 PM	#2
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I would get new sand but as far as the rock u definetly do not want to boil it. It will probably need a muratic acid bath. For details u can use the search function on muratic acid bath for live rock & they have a thread that gives u detailed instructions. If u decide to do it make sure u do your research because it can be dangerous if u do something wrong. If u want u can test for phosphate & if it's not high then u may be ok but I suspect it will be high & u probably need to use the acid.

10/18/2016, 10:24 AM	#7
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	Sanitize it using vinegar then bleach. You want to start with a clean slate, not with unknown stuff on the rocks.

10/18/2016, 10:42 AM	#8
Flaring Afro Puffer Geek Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 325	I also would kill off anything on it. If it were dry for 3 years, the die off would help start the cycle and at worst would make it take a long time to become stable. With it being in old water though, who knows what still is alive. Spores can last a long time while in water, etc.

10/18/2016, 08:34 PM	#9
BlueRoofTang Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 186	Yeah, there's not going to be anything living on it if it's been dried that long. You just want to try and wash off as much of the decayed matter as you can. I am not big on chemicals....especially those called ACID. What I have done is put the rock in a container with freshwater (why waste salt), with good movement, and soak it for weeks, doing a few water changes. I then add salt and "cure" it, putting some lighting on there until I begin to see some coralline algae grow. Then it's good to put in the display. You may have to add some coralline scrapings or throw in a small rock that has it though...to initially get some in the water.

10/18/2016, 09:44 PM	#10
trueflo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 4	the rock has been sitting submerged in saltwater. i took it down to move 3 years ago and ended up never being able to set it back up until now. so that rock has never dried. i am concerned about how nasty the rock is and what i have to do to get it usable again. if i rinse and somewhat scrub the rock, if the remaining die-off on the rock, would benefit kick starting the cycle. by spiking the ammonia? I am so flippin excited to finally get this sucker back up and running. i had it custom built and i want to make sure i do things perfect this time around

10/18/2016, 10:02 PM	#11
trueflo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 4	also, what is so bad about crushed coral? i have always been told that it helps buffer PH really well and that with sand, you risk having toxic gas pockets developing in the substrate that could nuke the tank. Also, isn't it a pain to clean?

10/18/2016, 10:06 PM	#12
R1ant04 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 232	If there is no aptasia or mojano on the rocks, then i would just dunk the rocks in sum fresh salt water a few times n then throw n2 the display tank n give it a few wks(2-4) of testing parameters b4 adding anything.

10/19/2016, 03:58 PM	#13
trueflo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 4	Thanks for the replies everyone! I think i know what i will do.

10/19/2016, 10:44 PM	#14
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Crushed coral does not buffer anything. It traps detritus. Use sand instead. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/19/2016, 10:58 PM	#15
exsequor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 224	Ya crushed coral sucks compared to a sand bed, caribsea sand 40# bags can be had on amazon on the cheap (especially compared w/ LFS price on l.s.)

10/19/2016, 11:42 PM	#16
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	I would cook it ( let it sit in fresh saltwater for a month or so with out any light) and do weekly water changes. Just to see what it starts to leach out. I actually used rock from the same situation and I ended up cooking it for almost 9 months. I think that'd overkill but I was building up equipment at the time. Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk