Switching out LR?

[BC1906]

Is there a process of switching out liverock? I picked up a tank from this lady a few months ago and it came with over 60lbs of liverock. I let it sit in container of water with aeration for a few weeks while I set the tank up. The tank has been up and running for a couple of months and there are hydroids all over some of the rocks and also some other stuff growing on them that I am not sure what it is.

I want to replace the rocks that's in the tank and put new dry rock in. What can I do to avoid the tank recycling since I'll be taking out most of the rock that's in there already?

 

[brandon429]

No need to reuse the old sand either, even if rinsed it was phosphate absorbed anyway I would go all new and recycle

 

[BC1906]

No need to reuse the old sand either, even if rinsed it was phosphate absorbed anyway I would go all new and recycle

The tank is already up and running with all my corals and fish. When I originally got the tank I saved all of the liverock that it came with it. I kept the rock in a container of water while I resealed the tank. I also got rid of the old sand and put in 60lbs of black Hawaiian live sand in the tank and let it cycle. Now after a couple of months have gone by there is stuff showing up on the rocks. I want to take the old rock out and put new dry rock in.

 

[ss95003]

if the "new" rock is fully cured, in theory you can remove all your old rock and replace.
I fit was just dry rock and its only been in saltwater for a couple weeks not sure I would do that.

Take some of your clean old rock put it in with your new rock and keep the correct temp on it for a while....weeks and then you should be good to go.

 

[aquanerd57]

If your not hurry burn it. Not on the stove or with a torch. Put it in a large container with some salt water. Drop in a power head. Seal the top with a lid so no light enters. All the animals living in on the rocks will die and increase the ammonia level to such a high level it will kill everything except the valuable nitrobacker bacteria in the rocks. Change half the water at four weeks and check again at eight weeks. Change it out until the Ammonia level is not detectable. The rock has been burned out by this process and then may be put to use clean of any critters etc. BRS has a great video on YouTube. Even if you buy dry rock you will have to cure it the same way . Happy reeking.

 

[sa6hir]

Also the best method in my opinion IF you wanted to replace it with new live rock would be to switch over a few pieces at a time. This way you can keep testing your water to ensure the new life rock isn't adding nutrients to your system! Then with the current live rock you could either cook it like mentioned above by aquanerd57 or stick it in the sun let it dry out and either sell it (let the new buyer know what you done with it) or store it for when u might upgrade [emoji6]What ever path u decide to take good luck [emoji6]

 

[BC1906]

Could I add ammonia to speed the process up?

 

[ss95003]

That's not going to work. Plenty of bad stuff will live a very very very long time with no light. Hydros and aptasia will be just fine with not light. What little did off you do have will be handled by your lr.