Reusing well established live rock - the good and the bad of reusing

jezzeaepi · 12/26/2017, 05:21 PM

My tank recently busted a seam, and I was forced to tear it down. I am now prepping for a new tank, and am wondering what I should do with my existing live rock(currently in a 32g trash can with heat and flowing water). I can either reuse it as is, or take it all down, bleach, soak in acid, and re-cure.

Pros for reusing it as is:
This is extremely well established live rock. Ive had it for 10+ years. It has numerous different sponges, different color coraline algae, pods, brittle stars, microfauna, bacteria, etc.

Cons for reusing it as is:
As numerous as good fauna is, so is the bad fauna. I also have some undesirable hitchhikers that make the rock look rather ugly, and have multiplied in to the thousands:
-Hydroids. I think most of them are dead, but I have thousands of mini tubes that cover the rocks and look unsightly
-Vermitid snails. Similar issue as the above.
-Random algae that always seem to come back at some point.

Since I am getting the opportunity to "start anew" after 10 years, I am strongly considering bleaching and acid soaking all of the rock to remove all of the undesirables. Unfortunately that will remove the desirables as well.

Thoughts? Is there a good place that sells a lot of the desirable microfauna so I can repopulate everything?

Thanks,
Jesse

jezzeaepi · 12/27/2017, 01:35 PM

Anyone else have to make this call? Did you regret your decision?

saf1 · 12/27/2017, 02:13 PM

I'm in the process of an upgrade from a 40 gallon to a 240 gallon. I will be transferring my existing tank and sand to the new one after the tank is mature and cycled. I've had some of this current rock since 2001 and see no need to get rid of it. The way I see it you can always blend it in with your new rock and have it seed bacteria and coralline algae.

At least that is how I see it - your mileage may vary of course.

jmicky41 · 12/27/2017, 10:23 PM

I am interested in this as well - my 15 year old LR has thousands of vermitid snails and with an impending move I have a chance to start anew, but don't really want to ditch this rock.

JUNBUG361 · 12/27/2017, 11:14 PM

Me personally would use the live rocks, unless I have some parasites or some other pest in my tank. Then I would bleach & start over

jezzeaepi · 12/28/2017, 01:14 AM

I think me and jmicky are in the same boat. Vermetid snails aren't that bad, but when you have them all over, it is very annoying since they have no good predator that we can buy :/

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

12/26/2017, 05:21 PM	#1
jezzeaepi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 385	Reusing well established live rock - the good and the bad of reusing My tank recently busted a seam, and I was forced to tear it down. I am now prepping for a new tank, and am wondering what I should do with my existing live rock(currently in a 32g trash can with heat and flowing water). I can either reuse it as is, or take it all down, bleach, soak in acid, and re-cure. Pros for reusing it as is: This is extremely well established live rock. Ive had it for 10+ years. It has numerous different sponges, different color coraline algae, pods, brittle stars, microfauna, bacteria, etc. Cons for reusing it as is: As numerous as good fauna is, so is the bad fauna. I also have some undesirable hitchhikers that make the rock look rather ugly, and have multiplied in to the thousands: -Hydroids. I think most of them are dead, but I have thousands of mini tubes that cover the rocks and look unsightly -Vermitid snails. Similar issue as the above. -Random algae that always seem to come back at some point. Since I am getting the opportunity to "start anew" after 10 years, I am strongly considering bleaching and acid soaking all of the rock to remove all of the undesirables. Unfortunately that will remove the desirables as well. Thoughts? Is there a good place that sells a lot of the desirable microfauna so I can repopulate everything? Thanks, Jesse

12/27/2017, 02:13 PM	#3
saf1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2,259	I'm in the process of an upgrade from a 40 gallon to a 240 gallon. I will be transferring my existing tank and sand to the new one after the tank is mature and cycled. I've had some of this current rock since 2001 and see no need to get rid of it. The way I see it you can always blend it in with your new rock and have it seed bacteria and coralline algae. At least that is how I see it - your mileage may vary of course. __________________ -saf1 Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef

12/27/2017, 10:23 PM	#4
jmicky41 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 891	I am interested in this as well - my 15 year old LR has thousands of vermitid snails and with an impending move I have a chance to start anew, but don't really want to ditch this rock. __________________ The bake sale to raise money for the carwash has been cancelled - due to confusion. Current Tank Info: 125 fowlr: 280watts VHO, 75LBS of mixed rock, Deltec AP600 skimmer, wet dry, GRi 518 return pump, 15 watt Aqua UV,(2) tunze 6000 on a 7095, goldflake angel(RIP), flame angel(8 years old), mitratus butterfly, yellow tang, majestic rabbitfsih

12/27/2017, 01:35 PM	#2
jezzeaepi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 385	Anyone else have to make this call? Did you regret your decision?

12/27/2017, 11:14 PM	#5
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Me personally would use the live rocks, unless I have some parasites or some other pest in my tank. Then I would bleach & start over

12/28/2017, 01:14 AM	#6
jezzeaepi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 385	I think me and jmicky are in the same boat. Vermetid snails aren't that bad, but when you have them all over, it is very annoying since they have no good predator that we can buy :/ Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk