Using Previously Dead Rock - Aquarium Advice

Squado · 05-12-2008, 09:58 PM

I previously had a saltwater reef about up until a year ago. I had a 29 gallon tank with about 70 pounds of LR (in the refuge too). Anyway, to make a long story short, I have about 70 pounds of LR sitting in an old fish tank in my basement. As we all know, it would be expensive to replace all of this LR in the new tank, if I decide to start again. Is it possible to use this LR even though its been dry for about a year now? Also, if I can use it, what steps are necessary to get it back to life (if possible). I am basically going to be setting up a nano (20g). My previous tank had some kind of "disease" that took out all of my corals - I never really found an answer (all parameters were always very pristine, 0's across the board with the proper levels of calcium, iodine, etc. If it was in fact a disease that did kill the corals, could it survive all this time on the rock out of water for almost a year? If I have to buy new LR its not a problem, just dont want to spend money when I dont have too. Any comments appreciated.

**melosu58** · 05-12-2008, 10:22 PM

Dead rock will become LR over time. Just cycle your tank and cure the LR at the same time. You`ll need something like a small shrimp to jump start the cycle since there is not much die off on your dead rock. You might want to buy a few pieces of LR to seed the old rock. HTH

BTW Welcome to AA

Innovator · 05-12-2008, 11:09 PM

The only red flag is if you ever medicated anything in the main tank that would cause such coral die-off? Live rock can be spoiled if that is the case, but if not as melosu stated, it will become live once bacteria recolonizes. Of course, you might as well mix fresh uncured lr to jump start the cycle.

**roka64** · 05-13-2008, 09:07 AM

Or a raw unseasoned jumbo shrimp if you don't want to buy more uncured rock...

cmor1701d · 05-13-2008, 12:50 PM

If you want to get coraline algae growing on the rock you will need a source. A single rock from the lfs will do and shouldn't cost much.

05-12-2008, 09:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Squado Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 328 Images: 3	Using Previously Dead Rock I previously had a saltwater reef about up until a year ago. I had a 29 gallon tank with about 70 pounds of LR (in the refuge too). Anyway, to make a long story short, I have about 70 pounds of LR sitting in an old fish tank in my basement. As we all know, it would be expensive to replace all of this LR in the new tank, if I decide to start again. Is it possible to use this LR even though its been dry for about a year now? Also, if I can use it, what steps are necessary to get it back to life (if possible). I am basically going to be setting up a nano (20g). My previous tank had some kind of "disease" that took out all of my corals - I never really found an answer (all parameters were always very pristine, 0's across the board with the proper levels of calcium, iodine, etc. If it was in fact a disease that did kill the corals, could it survive all this time on the rock out of water for almost a year? If I have to buy new LR its not a problem, just dont want to spend money when I dont have too. Any comments appreciated.

05-12-2008, 10:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 11,260 Images: 73	Dead rock will become LR over time. Just cycle your tank and cure the LR at the same time. You`ll need something like a small shrimp to jump start the cycle since there is not much die off on your dead rock. You might want to buy a few pieces of LR to seed the old rock. HTH BTW Welcome to AA __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef Last edited by melosu58; 05-12-2008 at 10:23 PM. Reason: Welcome

05-13-2008, 09:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,380 Images: 12	Or a raw unseasoned jumbo shrimp if you don't want to buy more uncured rock... __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

05-13-2008, 12:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,358 Images: 43	If you want to get coraline algae growing on the rock you will need a source. A single rock from the lfs will do and shouldn't cost much. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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05-12-2008, 11:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Innovator Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 959	The only red flag is if you ever medicated anything in the main tank that would cause such coral die-off? Live rock can be spoiled if that is the case, but if not as melosu stated, it will become live once bacteria recolonizes. Of course, you might as well mix fresh uncured lr to jump start the cycle.