How long before live rock is dry rock

[smalltown reefer]

I was able to acquire a fair amount of live rock from someone who had a tank crash. I do not know why it crashed. Since I do not need the rick at the moment and not knowing its history, wondering what to do and how long I need to do it in order to make it useable dry rock.

 

[mtfish]

A couple of different answers. I would probably dry it out for a month, out in a sunny location if possible. However, before I used it I would check to see how much phosphate is locked up in and may need to be treat with something like lanthanum chloride or other phosphate binder. And of course you will have all the dried dead stuff that will cycle when put back in saltwater, so will have to go into a new tank or cured before going into an established tank.

 

[smalltown reefer]

A couple of different answers. I would probably dry it out for a month, out in a sunny location if possible. However, before I used it I would check to see how much phosphate is locked up in and may need to be treat with something like lanthanum chloride or other phosphate binder. And of course you will have all the dried dead stuff that will cycle when put back in saltwater, so will have to go into a new tank or cured before going into an established tank.

To check phosphate do you soak it in water then test the water?

 

[mtfish]

To check phosphate do you soak it in water then test the water?

Yes. Once you put it in a container of saltwater, take a baseline reading. Let it set for a week and check again. If the level rises, then it is leaching phosphate. Treat with phosphate binder until you get zero.

 

[High ICP]

If I wanted it clean and dry

Me, I would acid bathe it

I would get a large Rubbermaid

And a gallon of pool acid. And let it bubble. Then rinse it. Soak it. Dry it. Everything is off of it. Everything is dead from it.

Then aquascape it.