Used live rock

[Vicxdaxbrick]

So I picked up some live rock on offerup yesterday. The guy had it in a sealed plastic container with water in it from his established tank that was broken down about a month prior (post was up for a month). Question is do I treat this rock as brand new and completely wash it and cycle it all over again? Or is there a "softer" way to clean the rock (assuming it has unwanted pests/bacteria) and save the "cycled" rock to use in my tank sooner?

I have a 60gal with 45lbs of rock that has been running for about 8 months, few fish, coral, invertebrates, just wanted to add about 20lbs of more rock. Thanks.

 

[Pistondog]

So I picked up some live rock on offerup yesterday. The guy had it in a sealed plastic container with water in it from his established tank that was broken down about a month prior (post was up for a month). Question is do I treat this rock as brand new and completely wash it and cycle it all over again? Or is there a "softer" way to clean the rock (assuming it has unwanted pests/bacteria) and save the "cycled" rock to use in my tank sooner?

I have a 60gal with 45lbs of rock that has been running for about 8 months, few fish, coral, invertebrates, just wanted to add about 20lbs of more rock. Thanks.

Inspect for pests, and add a rock or 2 to your tank.
Add your old water from water change to acquired rock with heater and pump.
Add slowly to your tank over a few weeks.

 

[Vicxdaxbrick]

Inspect for pests, and add a rock or 2 to your tank.
Add your old water from water change to acquired rock with heater and pump.
Add slowly to your tank over a few weeks.

Sounds like some great info. Thanks! Will do

 

[Pistondog]

Sounds like some great info. Thanks! Will do

Welcome to the club,
Hope this helps.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Be careful, though. It takes awhile for some pests to appear, as some hitchhikers may arrive on eggs hidden deep with the rock, and it take time for them to hatch and grow. If you are wary about bad hitchhikers (and parasites) -- and I have or have had many of them -- it's not a bad idea to put them in a quarantine tank first so that you can observe and, perhaps, treat. I couldn't do that with one used build that I bought, and have been removing majanos and aiptasia since then.

 

[Vicxdaxbrick]

Be careful, though. It takes awhile for some pests to appear, as some hitchhikers may arrive on eggs hidden deep with the rock, and it take time for them to hatch and grow. If you are wary about bad hitchhikers (and parasites) -- and I have or have had many of them -- it's not a bad idea to put them in a quarantine tank first so that you can observe and, perhaps, treat. I couldn't do that with one used build that I bought, and have been removing majanos and aiptasia since then.

Ok I got a qt I can set them in for now

 

[Mark3]

If I can give my 2 cents worth.... I would sterilize it, and then just add it into your tank.
you can find lots of tips on cleaning the rock ...bleach or muriatic acid wash.