Dry Rock Ready for Use?

[baseballfanatic2]

Hey guys,

I recently had a dinos infested tank. Had the tank running for about 1 1/2 years. Tore that tank down last week, placed live rock out in sun to dry. All the bristleworms died, along with everything else. Gotta love the Florida heat.

I just bought a new tank. Is it safe to put the dry rocks in my new tank now to start cycling my new tank?

 

[CodyRVA]

There will probably be a massive amount of dead organic matter on the rock work. If you're completely starting over this should be fine, it should actually aid in providing an ammonia source, to kick start the process. If you were moving the rock back into an established aquarium without removing the dead organic matter you would have issues.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Since you're starting a new tank you'll be able to cure the rock and cycle the tank at the same time. Note that because the curing process will release nitrates and phosphates, it most likely will require a couple water changes to lower those amounts.

 

[jduck]

Yep stick it in there, you can use pure ammonia to help the cycle get started. Or use raw shrimp.

 

[zoomonster]

I would bleach and then clean with muriatic acid or at least the muriatic acid. Aside from all the garbage likely in that rock it may leach phosphates for a long time to come. You could save yourself a lot a trouble now.