Does dry real reef rock have dead organics?

TReef · Jul 20, 2020

Hi this is my first time posting and I just set up my first tank. I used real reef rock to set up and by the time I got it in the mail it was dry. I didn’t think anything of but now I’m scared there are dead organics. My question is if anyone has had experience with this and if so how to fix it.

emilio365 · Jul 20, 2020

I would say just give a real good rinse in some salt water, and it will be fine. The dead organics will help with the cycling of the tank. Did you buy it as Live Rock?
if it’s in your tank allready then just follow the cycle process.

madweazl · Jul 20, 2020

Most live rock gets wrapped in newspaper; it is somewhat wet when it gets boxed up but contains minimal water. Stuff does die off in shipping. Generally, people "cure" the live rock in a container for a week or two to allow this process to complete and then transfer it to a tank. Obviously, some stuff dies off and some lives. There are a couple that are shipped submerged in water and that mitigates a lot of the die off.

TReef · Jul 22, 2020

Thanks for the replies everyone

madweazl said:
Most live rock gets wrapped in newspaper; it is somewhat wet when it gets boxed up but contains minimal water. Stuff does die off in shipping. Generally, people "cure" the live rock in a container for a week or two to allow this process to complete and then transfer it to a tank. Obviously, some stuff dies off and some lives. There are a couple that are shipped submerged in water and that mitigates a lot of the die off.

Unfortunately the shipping took a while and the rock was Fully dry . Not to mention I left it out for a couple of days. I also researched what is on this rock and it is only microalgaes so I have since scrubbed most of it off with a toothbrush and turkey baster.

emilio365 said:
I would say just give a real good rinse in some salt water, and it will be fine. The dead organics will help with the cycling of the tank. Did you buy it as Live Rock?
if it’s in your tank allready then just follow the cycle process.

I have scrubbed the dead organics just because I don’t want an ammonia spike and deal with algae and nutrient problems. I do have some bottled ammonia to dose for cycling. Thank you for you answer!