Live rock ?

reefer freak · 01/07/2015, 12:00 PM

I acquired some live rock about a year ago in anticipation of upgrading my tank from a 55 to 75. long story short the rock has been in a 35 gal can for the last year with a heater and 2 power heads and im ready to make the switch. Do you think the rock will be ok to use? It dont smell and there is still coraline on it?

alton · 01/07/2015, 01:16 PM

Check the Ammonia and Nitrate levels and you should be good to go

reefer freak · 01/07/2015, 01:37 PM

Will this cause a cycle of any kind in the tank? im setting up new tank with new sand, still going to use some old live rock as it has my corals on it but would like to use alot of this new rock as well.

fishgate · 01/07/2015, 01:39 PM

You've never done any water changes or anything just left it sit for a year in the same water? Not sure I would trust it I'm surprised it hasn't gone stagnant.

alton · 01/07/2015, 01:42 PM

Anytime you move/disturb stuff around you will get a mini cycle. After you combine everything just watch your ammonia levels, you should be fine

reefer freak · 01/07/2015, 01:45 PM

I don't see how it could stagnate with 2 power heads circulating the water. sg is 1.025 as clear as crystal no ammonia or nitrates. But i don't know im still a noob thats why i'm asking.

fishgate · 01/07/2015, 01:51 PM

Have you been feeding it like a few flakes of food once in awhile? If not, I can't imagine there is too much "live" on it anymore most of the bacteria died off over the past year. But if it smells clean that is the main thing.

reefer freak · 01/07/2015, 01:56 PM

Ok so I can rule out "live" as it hasn't been feed, maybe call it cycled? so if I add to new set up it will become live? Im just trying to avoid a cycle thak kills stuff.

fishgate · 01/07/2015, 02:11 PM

It will become live in short order as bacteria colonize it once a food source is available and there is always some bacteria present. Basically I'd say you cooked the rock which is a good thing.

reefer freak · 01/07/2015, 02:17 PM

Ok thanks, I'm in the process of making large batches of sw for the tank swap so ill just make more and pick what rock i want to use and put it in new sw for a week and slowly add to the new tank after testing water again

01/07/2015, 12:00 PM	#1
reefer freak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 25	Live rock ? I acquired some live rock about a year ago in anticipation of upgrading my tank from a 55 to 75. long story short the rock has been in a 35 gal can for the last year with a heater and 2 power heads and im ready to make the switch. Do you think the rock will be ok to use? It dont smell and there is still coraline on it?

01/07/2015, 01:39 PM	#4
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	You've never done any water changes or anything just left it sit for a year in the same water? Not sure I would trust it I'm surprised it hasn't gone stagnant. __________________ 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

01/07/2015, 01:51 PM	#7
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Have you been feeding it like a few flakes of food once in awhile? If not, I can't imagine there is too much "live" on it anymore most of the bacteria died off over the past year. But if it smells clean that is the main thing. __________________ 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

01/07/2015, 02:11 PM	#9
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	It will become live in short order as bacteria colonize it once a food source is available and there is always some bacteria present. Basically I'd say you cooked the rock which is a good thing. __________________ 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

01/07/2015, 01:16 PM	#2
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Check the Ammonia and Nitrate levels and you should be good to go

01/07/2015, 01:37 PM	#3
reefer freak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 25	Will this cause a cycle of any kind in the tank? im setting up new tank with new sand, still going to use some old live rock as it has my corals on it but would like to use alot of this new rock as well.

01/07/2015, 01:42 PM	#5
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Anytime you move/disturb stuff around you will get a mini cycle. After you combine everything just watch your ammonia levels, you should be fine

01/07/2015, 01:45 PM	#6
reefer freak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 25	I don't see how it could stagnate with 2 power heads circulating the water. sg is 1.025 as clear as crystal no ammonia or nitrates. But i don't know im still a noob thats why i'm asking.

01/07/2015, 01:56 PM	#8
reefer freak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 25	Ok so I can rule out "live" as it hasn't been feed, maybe call it cycled? so if I add to new set up it will become live? Im just trying to avoid a cycle thak kills stuff.

01/07/2015, 02:17 PM	#10
reefer freak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 25	Ok thanks, I'm in the process of making large batches of sw for the tank swap so ill just make more and pick what rock i want to use and put it in new sw for a week and slowly add to the new tank after testing water again