Adding old live rock to my new sump?

[Pete Hammersley]

Hi all. I’m upgrading my 45 gallon system to a 220 gallon system. The rock in my existing tank is well established live rock but has a fair amount of algae, I’ve seen a few bristle worms and aptasia here and there too.
I’ve already bought all new dry rock for the display tank, I didn’t want to just add rock to what I already had because it would look a mess, the white new rock against the green and purple old rock. I’ve got 3 boxes of Carib sea base rock for my new aqua scale.
I’m wondering what to do with the established live rock, possibly 1 big box worth? Should I discard it to save introducing and of the aptasia etc, or smash it all up, put it in baskets and add it to my sump?
Just wondering if anything from the rock is likely to cause me trouble when any eggs / etc travel up through the return pump?

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Katrina71]

I'd add it. I guess I don't freak out about any of the hitchhikers.

 

[Bob Escher]

I would add it, helps to jump start the system

 

[BigKid4788]

Add it. Algae will die bcs lack of light. Help with the cycling process

 

[dwest]

I would keep it also. Either in DT or sump. The stability it will provide outweighs the negative of aiptasia IMO.

 

[HawaiianReef]

I wouldn't add it.
I had a run in with unwanted pest on my first couple of tanks. Brisstle worms I could deal with. But aptasia, no way. I tried lemon juice, aptasia x, peroxide, kalk paste, even the aptasia zapper (electrical probe to shock them). I also bought peppermint shrimp and a file fish, but I like to feed heavy so they got spoiled and liked the food I gave them more than the aptasia. As for the other methods, they would die, but they release spores too. Then you have more. And having to inject every single little anemone as you see them is just a PITA. Some reefers leave the hobby from aptasia outbreaks.
I now cure ALL my rock and QT Every little frag I put into my system. It just isn't worth it to me. I'd rather put in a little more time upfront to save myself from maintaining a pest problem. But that's just me. As you can see others don't mind them too much. I am quite anal retentive though.
My vote, No Way. Especially on a 220g tank. You want something like that to last years. Knowingly starting with a pest problem right out of the gate is just asking for trouble.

 

[Pete Hammersley]

I'd add it. I guess I don't freak out about any of the hitchhikers.


I don’t mind any creatures in my tank, the weirder the better for me, as long as they are not going to cause my fish or corals any harm. Only been into reefing 18 months or so, ho difficult to know what’s safe and what’s not.

 

[Pete Hammersley]

I would add it, helps to jump start the system

Do you think I’d still need a bottle of Dr Timms OAO? For a tank this size would be the large bottle which is £77, (around $100)

 

[Pete Hammersley]

I wouldn't add it.
I had a run in with unwanted pest on my first couple of tanks. Brisstle worms I could deal with. But aptasia, no way. I tried lemon juice, aptasia x, peroxide, kalk paste, even the aptasia zapper (electrical probe to shock them). I also bought peppermint shrimp and a file fish, but I like to feed heavy so they got spoiled and liked the food I gave them more than the aptasia. As for the other methods, they would die, but they release spores too. Then you have more. And having to inject every single little anemone as you see them is just a PITA. Some reefers leave the hobby from aptasia outbreaks.
I now cure ALL my rock and QT Every little frag I put into my system. It just isn't worth it to me. I'd rather put in a little more time upfront to save myself from maintaining a pest problem. But that's just me. As you can see others don't mind them too much. I am quite anal retentive though.
My vote, No Way. Especially on a 220g tank. You want something like that to last years. Knowingly starting with a pest problem right out of the gate is just asking for trouble.

Thanks for the detailed response. You said you cure your rock to before adding it to a tank. Is there a way or treatment process that can rid any rock of unwanted critters, without destroying all the beneficial bacteria that makes it so valuable in the first place?
Thanks.

 

[Katrina71]

Nudibranches work!

 

[HawaiianReef]

Thanks for the detailed response. You said you cure your rock to before adding it to a tank. Is there a way or treatment process that can rid any rock of unwanted critters, without destroying all the beneficial bacteria that makes it so valuable in the first place?
Thanks.

I haven't found/heard of any process yet.