dead live rock in with new live rock... is this okay?

Rawny804 · 03/29/2006, 04:52 PM

I have about 8 lbs of live rock thats basically dead. I had it in my previous 5.5g nano before I moved and never really started it back up because of living situations... now i am settled enough wehre I am starting a new 15g long. My question is... can I use these rocks that has been sitting in my closet since august in my new tank? Will it cause any major problems? I am getting about 10 lbs of new "Cured" Live Rock from my LFS... will the old bacteria and microbes cause major problems in the tank with the new rock? How will it effect the cycle if any....thanks for any info.

der Riff-Konig · 03/29/2006, 05:04 PM

Your new tank is going to have to cycle anyways. So clean up the old rock and put it in with the new and let it do its thing in conjunction with the tank cycling.

FishWife1 · 03/29/2006, 05:05 PM

Be aware that you may have an ammonia spike. I took some dead rock- been sitting out in a 10 gal. with no pump, no heat on the back porch for a couple of months. I am starting a new tank and want to use it so I cleaned out the tank, cleaned up the rock, put in a nice big piece of cure lr, heater and maxi-jet all in anticipation of being able to use it in a couple of weeks. I added a 20 lb. bag of Aragalife sand. after about 3 days I tested for ammonia just out of curiosity - through the roof. the color was so dark green it was almost blue/black. Gross!

Glad I did it plenty early. By the time the tank is here it should be pretty well cycled - just have to watch for a small spike after moving stuff.

So, no, don't put that dead rock directly in your tank, you never know what might be lurking inside.

Laurie

jefathome · 03/29/2006, 05:06 PM

Your new live rock will activate your old rock over time.
You might want to "cook" your old rock first though, in case there is a ton of dead stuff on it.
Just put it in a tub/container and change the water every few days. Periodicly aim a powerhead at it to blow out any detritus that is hiding in the cracks.

Rawny804 · 03/29/2006, 05:09 PM

****... my GF was tryin to be helpful so she stuck the dead rocks into my tank...so I took it out... its only been in there for about 20 hours... nothing else is in the tank except water and sand, no lights or anything.... is this okay? or do I have to change the water??

reefgeek84 · 03/29/2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rawny804
****... my GF was tryin to be helpful so she stuck the dead rocks into my tank...so I took it out... its only been in there for about 20 hours... nothing else is in the tank except water and sand, no lights or anything.... is this okay? or do I have to change the water??

You'll be fine. Do not be mad at your girl, she was trying to help...Just tell her thank you and not to mess with your tank unless you say so.

Rawny804 · 03/29/2006, 05:22 PM

haha i didnt get mad at her... i knew she was only tryin to help... in fact, she was the one who bought me the 15g to start a new one with in the first place! I just took the rocks out... tested for ammonia and such and everything is gravy!

03/29/2006, 04:52 PM	#1
Rawny804 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norman/OKC/Tulsa Posts: 104	dead live rock in with new live rock... is this okay? I have about 8 lbs of live rock thats basically dead. I had it in my previous 5.5g nano before I moved and never really started it back up because of living situations... now i am settled enough wehre I am starting a new 15g long. My question is... can I use these rocks that has been sitting in my closet since august in my new tank? Will it cause any major problems? I am getting about 10 lbs of new "Cured" Live Rock from my LFS... will the old bacteria and microbes cause major problems in the tank with the new rock? How will it effect the cycle if any....thanks for any info. __________________ 15g Long AGA 70w HQI MH 14K astralux bulb 32wx2 CSL PC (2 - 03 Atinics) MJ606 PH (x2) AC110 DIY Fuge Hagen 50w Heater Current Tank Info: 15g long

03/29/2006, 05:04 PM	#2
der Riff-Konig Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 686	Your new tank is going to have to cycle anyways. So clean up the old rock and put it in with the new and let it do its thing in conjunction with the tank cycling. __________________ People who think they know what they're doing are especially annoying to those of us who do. Current Tank Info: 125 with 30 sump, two 58's with 20 sumps. 55, two 30's.

03/29/2006, 05:05 PM	#3
FishWife1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cameron, NC Posts: 288	Be aware that you may have an ammonia spike. I took some dead rock- been sitting out in a 10 gal. with no pump, no heat on the back porch for a couple of months. I am starting a new tank and want to use it so I cleaned out the tank, cleaned up the rock, put in a nice big piece of cure lr, heater and maxi-jet all in anticipation of being able to use it in a couple of weeks. I added a 20 lb. bag of Aragalife sand. after about 3 days I tested for ammonia just out of curiosity - through the roof. the color was so dark green it was almost blue/black. Gross! Glad I did it plenty early. By the time the tank is here it should be pretty well cycled - just have to watch for a small spike after moving stuff. So, no, don't put that dead rock directly in your tank, you never know what might be lurking inside. Laurie __________________ Ummmmmm.... Current Tank Info: 30 gal. cube, 2 large BTAs, pair of pink skunks, 1 seahorse, various softies and lps

03/29/2006, 05:06 PM	#4
jefathome Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 2,915	Your new live rock will activate your old rock over time. You might want to "cook" your old rock first though, in case there is a ton of dead stuff on it. Just put it in a tub/container and change the water every few days. Periodicly aim a powerhead at it to blow out any detritus that is hiding in the cracks. __________________ Without Geometry, life is pointless Current Tank Info: NEW 150g in-wall Solartube display; 60g 4x2ft frag tank; 3g work Pico.... all Reef tanks

03/29/2006, 05:09 PM	#5
Rawny804 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norman/OKC/Tulsa Posts: 104	****... my GF was tryin to be helpful so she stuck the dead rocks into my tank...so I took it out... its only been in there for about 20 hours... nothing else is in the tank except water and sand, no lights or anything.... is this okay? or do I have to change the water?? __________________ 15g Long AGA 70w HQI MH 14K astralux bulb 32wx2 CSL PC (2 - 03 Atinics) MJ606 PH (x2) AC110 DIY Fuge Hagen 50w Heater Current Tank Info: 15g long

03/29/2006, 05:22 PM	#7
Rawny804 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Norman/OKC/Tulsa Posts: 104	haha i didnt get mad at her... i knew she was only tryin to help... in fact, she was the one who bought me the 15g to start a new one with in the first place! I just took the rocks out... tested for ammonia and such and everything is gravy! __________________ 15g Long AGA 70w HQI MH 14K astralux bulb 32wx2 CSL PC (2 - 03 Atinics) MJ606 PH (x2) AC110 DIY Fuge Hagen 50w Heater Current Tank Info: 15g long