old live rock

[slockman]

I'm not that new I've had 10,15,40,and 90 gallon reef tanks in the past but have moved some the lady couple of years. Starting back I have some really good live rock that had been in a Tupperware container out of water for about 5 years. Some looks great still purple but some that was in the 90 that had some hair algae when I took it down has a hint of green is it going to come back in the tank? Should I do wondering before putting it in. My jbj rl 45 will be here this week.

 

[argue.oa]

I'm also curious about this thread as I also have some spare rock in some old buckets....if I could I would use it again..

 

[brandon429]

It's my opinion you should model it first, who wants a full tank setup around questionable rock, do a three month test nano with the rocks in question.

It's no doubt bacteria will reseed and those leftover pigments will be new ground for things to calcify, but leaking of extra waste beyond the tank bioload is in question. For sure you could use it, or acid reduce some of the outer layer clean, or nano test to see what it does.

a reefbowl takes fifty bucks to set up, about as cheap as a test run I could think of.

 

[Dtackett]

youre going to need to cure your rocks. I wouldn't start a tank with those all youre going to accomplish is giving yourself hell trying to keep up. stick them all in a food grade 55 gallon drum, or similar, with a protein skimmer and a heater. no light. let them run for a few weeks then drain and replace all the water, let it run for a few weeks and drain and replace all the water. it could take a month or 2 before your rocks are cured and safe for use in a tank. but first thing, I would scrub the surface of the rock and rinse in clean rodi water prior to even starting to cure them.