How do you tell if LR is dead?

[OceanMist]

as the subject says, is there any way to tell if the bacteria in live rock has died and the rock is almost useless?

 

[lando]

Providing the rock has been kept in a SW tank with acceptable water conditions, it should be fine. If it was dried out or exposed to extreme conditions, it may not have much of a bacteria colonization on it. To my knowledge, there is no "test" for it. Just rely on general water parameters to let you know if you LR is working.

 

[OceanMist]

Thanks, It's just I bought a chunk from the LFS for my new 2g nano, it looks beatiful with bright red corraline algae (if this is at all even possible?), however none of the rock in the tank looked noticeably "alive", I know its impossible to tell but looking at some of the pics of peoples LR on the site, it makes mine look, well ... dead!?