Live rock question

[rupp3322]

Lets say for example you treated your aquarium with a medicine that is not reef safe. How would you know if your live rock wasn't "live" anymore? I am new to fowlr and was curious about this? How do you know your live rock is "live"?

 

[Jlsardina]

Umm- you can't use LR that has had copper on it in a reef tank. It's saturated into the rock at that point.

 

[rupp3322]

Im aware of that. I was just curious if the rock looks different when its dead rock or what.

 

[Jlsardina]

Purely dead rock would show no growth on it I guess. Fresh LR that has only been out about a week will smell worse than anything you have smelled!