Live Rock question. Help!

dinger28 · 11/14/2014, 09:30 AM

So I ordered dry rock a couple months ago and started making it "live" again as soon as I received it. For 2 months, I have done water changes and everything needed to make it "live" again, but the water has changed in temperature (78F to 40F) since I didn't put a heater in there. Does that matter, or will the rock be good to go and I can put it in my 300 gallon? Have fish from my 240 I want to move over, but don't want to if my rock isn't "live." Thanks for the help!

Matt

pyithar · 11/14/2014, 09:51 AM

did u mean "live" by having beneficial bacteria on the rocks? i'm not sure if the beneficial bacteria can survive 40F. but you can put dry rocks straight into the tank after cleaning them well. they'll become "live" eventually.

fishgate · 11/14/2014, 09:51 AM

??? Live rock means live bacteria is living on the rock. As soon as you put it in the tank, bacteria will start colonizing it and it will become "live".

dinger28 · 11/14/2014, 10:18 AM

I know all of this. However, I wanted to transfer my fish directly into the aquarium once this rock has been put in. Can rock only be live if fish are in there? Just didn't want to kill my fish if the tank hadn't cycle because of the rock that I put in there. Thanks!

coralsnaked · 11/14/2014, 10:19 AM

The bacteria in and on "live rock" should survive the colder temperatures, but its reproductive rate or population will be far less strong as it could have been. Just make sure you test for 0.0 ammonia and nitrite prior to placing in tank w/ livestock. And remember it will take some time for the rock to begin producing sufficient levels of bacteria to accommodate any significant bio load, so go slow. .

dinger28 · 11/14/2014, 10:50 AM

Thanks coralsnaked. Have 5 smaller fish that will be going in there for now from my existing 240. Will see how that goes for a couple months before I start to add more. Thanks again and any other input is appreciated!

Matt

11/14/2014, 09:30 AM	#1
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Live Rock question. Help! So I ordered dry rock a couple months ago and started making it "live" again as soon as I received it. For 2 months, I have done water changes and everything needed to make it "live" again, but the water has changed in temperature (78F to 40F) since I didn't put a heater in there. Does that matter, or will the rock be good to go and I can put it in my 300 gallon? Have fish from my 240 I want to move over, but don't want to if my rock isn't "live." Thanks for the help! Matt

11/14/2014, 09:51 AM	#2
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	did u mean "live" by having beneficial bacteria on the rocks? i'm not sure if the beneficial bacteria can survive 40F. but you can put dry rocks straight into the tank after cleaning them well. they'll become "live" eventually. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

11/14/2014, 09:51 AM	#3
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	??? Live rock means live bacteria is living on the rock. As soon as you put it in the tank, bacteria will start colonizing it and it will become "live". __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

11/14/2014, 10:19 AM	#5
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	The bacteria in and on "live rock" should survive the colder temperatures, but its reproductive rate or population will be far less strong as it could have been. Just make sure you test for 0.0 ammonia and nitrite prior to placing in tank w/ livestock. And remember it will take some time for the rock to begin producing sufficient levels of bacteria to accommodate any significant bio load, so go slow. . __________________ Merry Skerry Current Tank Info: 1 G Nano jellyfish to 1200 G Bull Nose FOWLR featuring large Holacanthus and Pomacanthus

11/14/2014, 10:18 AM	#4
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	I know all of this. However, I wanted to transfer my fish directly into the aquarium once this rock has been put in. Can rock only be live if fish are in there? Just didn't want to kill my fish if the tank hadn't cycle because of the rock that I put in there. Thanks!

11/14/2014, 10:50 AM	#6
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Thanks coralsnaked. Have 5 smaller fish that will be going in there for now from my existing 240. Will see how that goes for a couple months before I start to add more. Thanks again and any other input is appreciated! Matt