Old live rock

[Michelle3]

I have five nice pieces of live rock left over from a tank that I broke down about five years ago. They are clean but totally dry and white. They have just been sitting in my empty tank.
Can they be revived, or should I just toss them? If so, is there a process to restore them?
(I have some live rock in my current tank that I bought at my LFS and I would like to add more. )

 

[Nick Steele]

So that old Live rock is now just rock! I would probably rinse it with rodi or water from a water change and then you should be good. Won’t have any bacteria etc but wil just be like buying rock from any store imo

 

[Michelle3]

Thanks! About how long does it take to become "live" again if it is placed in an established aquarium?
Is it even safe to place it in my aquarium -will it alter the water chemistry at all?

 

[bushdoc]

If it is real, former Live Rock from the ocean, not maricultured than it is usually more porous and of higher quality than mined dry rock and it is worth re-seeding it with bacteria.
It will become live in a sense of bacterial colonization in a matter of weeks, but with other growth it will take long months, half a year or longer.