Reusing old live rock question

PmPrepGuy · 11/20/2008, 08:36 AM

I saved all my old LR from when i took my tank down. Now i wanna use it all agian of course. I know its not "LR" now but do i need to do anything with the rock or can i just go ahead put it in my tank and during my month or so of cycling can my powerheads and my skimmer take care of it all.

cdness · 11/20/2008, 08:46 AM

give it a good scrup down, maybe a muriatic acid bath then just use it. cook it to let it cycle faster or just cycle it in the tank. You should be fine.

sdietz2469 · 11/20/2008, 10:07 AM

yep, just as cdness said... scrub it, rinse it, cook it... use it
shane

PmPrepGuy · 11/20/2008, 10:11 AM

cook it ?

PmPrepGuy · 11/20/2008, 10:39 AM

not sure what that process is

PmPrepGuy · 11/20/2008, 11:55 AM

Bump

firebirdude · 11/20/2008, 12:42 PM

He just means let it sit in a bucket filled with saltwater in the garage for awhile. Not literally cook it.

davidryder · 11/20/2008, 12:44 PM

Just throw it in your tank. Seriously it's been dried long enough... no need to engage in all that extra effort. It will be fruitless.

Drop it in your tank and let the cycle begin.

kevin2000 · 11/20/2008, 12:53 PM

How long has it been since you tore down your tank?

As a general rule you really don't need to do much to std "base rock" - most will simply rinse it well and put it into the tank. However if you recently tore down your tank then chances are that your "base rock" may still have organic material which might create cycle issues. If so - just keep it in a container of SW until it cures.

waxy · 11/20/2008, 12:54 PM

Since it's dried and clean. You should just toss it in the tank.

Now if it was live rock, now dead and stinky (Black coloration). I'd leave it to bake in the sun, scrub and spray with RO water (Soaking it in a bucket of RO and scrubbing is good). Then start the whole process all over again. Start cycling.

davidryder · 11/20/2008, 01:07 PM

He's cycling his tank anyway...

kevin2000 · 11/20/2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davidryder
He's cycling his tank anyway...

Good point.

PmPrepGuy · 11/20/2008, 10:01 PM

yeah its been about 3 months lol. They've just been sitting in a rubbermaid tub, think about 40 maybe more lbs of rock. Ill just rinse em and get em stacked after i add my sand. Then the long process of making 75g of salt water !

(meaing 75g of RO/DI water just takes a little while when i get 5gph)

11/20/2008, 08:36 AM	#1
PmPrepGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 126	Reusing old live rock question I saved all my old LR from when i took my tank down. Now i wanna use it all agian of course. I know its not "LR" now but do i need to do anything with the rock or can i just go ahead put it in my tank and during my month or so of cycling can my powerheads and my skimmer take care of it all.

11/20/2008, 08:46 AM	#2
cdness Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 870	give it a good scrup down, maybe a muriatic acid bath then just use it. cook it to let it cycle faster or just cycle it in the tank. You should be fine. __________________ 125G Reef, 40G sump, Marineland 4500 returns, Dart Closed Loop, OM 4-way, LED and Apollo LED Red River Valley Reefers - Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks Reef Club -http://redrivervalleyreefers.com Current Tank Info: 75G display, 20G sump, Additional 10G Fuge, drilled, Ocean Runner 6500 for closed loop, Catalina Aquarium CA4000 Return pump, MSX 160 Skimmer

11/20/2008, 10:07 AM	#3
sdietz2469 stickhead n chalice freak Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Milwaukie, OR 97267 Posts: 529	yep, just as cdness said... scrub it, rinse it, cook it... use it shane __________________ King Of Aquatico Island corals are like crack, but more expensive, and you cant OD on them.... Current Tank Info: 300DD sps dominant, ATB Med ext w/airstar 4-6105s, apex, geo 618 CaRx, PM 620 kalk, 500 gal total water. Check out my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2116897

11/20/2008, 10:11 AM	#4
PmPrepGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 126	cook it ? __________________ Jeremy Current Tank Info: rebuilding my 75g

11/20/2008, 10:39 AM	#5
PmPrepGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 126	not sure what that process is __________________ Jeremy Current Tank Info: rebuilding my 75g

11/20/2008, 11:55 AM	#6
PmPrepGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 126	Bump __________________ Jeremy Current Tank Info: rebuilding my 75g

11/20/2008, 12:42 PM	#7
firebirdude User and Abuser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,836	He just means let it sit in a bucket filled with saltwater in the garage for awhile. Not literally cook it.

11/20/2008, 12:44 PM	#8
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	Just throw it in your tank. Seriously it's been dried long enough... no need to engage in all that extra effort. It will be fruitless. Drop it in your tank and let the cycle begin. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

11/20/2008, 12:53 PM	#9
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	How long has it been since you tore down your tank? As a general rule you really don't need to do much to std "base rock" - most will simply rinse it well and put it into the tank. However if you recently tore down your tank then chances are that your "base rock" may still have organic material which might create cycle issues. If so - just keep it in a container of SW until it cures.

11/20/2008, 12:54 PM	#10
waxy Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jan Sose, CA Posts: 972	Since it's dried and clean. You should just toss it in the tank. Now if it was live rock, now dead and stinky (Black coloration). I'd leave it to bake in the sun, scrub and spray with RO water (Soaking it in a bucket of RO and scrubbing is good). Then start the whole process all over again. Start cycling.

11/20/2008, 01:07 PM	#11
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	He's cycling his tank anyway... __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

11/20/2008, 10:01 PM	#13
PmPrepGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 126	yeah its been about 3 months lol. They've just been sitting in a rubbermaid tub, think about 40 maybe more lbs of rock. Ill just rinse em and get em stacked after i add my sand. Then the long process of making 75g of salt water ! (meaing 75g of RO/DI water just takes a little while when i get 5gph) __________________ Jeremy Current Tank Info: rebuilding my 75g