How to tell if it's a live rock

[DeadOrAlive]

Hi,my friend just gave me a couple of "live" rocks but when i checked the rock it has no colour on it at all and looks just like a normal plain,dull rock. I was wondering if my so called "live" rock is really a live rock or not and if it is when till it start growing coralline algae on it??? Can someone please help me with this???

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

"Live" rock just means that it has a bacterial population already on/in it. It really has nothing to do with the visible life (or lack of) on the rock itself. Any rock - no matter what it looks like - will become "live" after being in a stocked tank for a couple months.

 

[DeadOrAlive]

Firstly,THANK YOU!!! Ever since i got the rock and read from some link that my live rock may not be alive i have been worried sick. So when i read your reply i was elated and relieved. Thank you so much!

 

[mfdrookie516]

it wont be "live" if it hasnt been kept wet though...