Using my old dry Live Rock

[Dal-Reef]

Howdy All,

I had 125 gallon mixed reef tank from 1991 to around 2000 but do to work, moving and family I got out of the hobby for the past 19 years. The love and itch to get back into the hobby has always been there. Well I am back and in process of researching and planning my new tank. Like I need another hobby I will be posting my build as I get closer.

I have around 200lbs of dry live rock that has been completely protected and stored in sealed a trash can all these years. (Always knew some day I would be back) The rock is a mix of Fiji, Tonga and Tampa Bay that was the old school live rock from the ocean. The rock when it was in the aquarium was very clean with no issues and a beautiful tank. I will do my aquascape with the dry pieces I want to use.

My question I have is what is the best way to get it ready for the new tank?

• Get a big bucket and let the rock run in some clean saltwater with power heads and not lights
• If so how long
• If I go this process will the rock cure again
• How long before ready for the tank
• Use lights at all.
• I do know what once I add to the tank will will want it go the cycle process to stabilize the tank
• Other options- just start with dry straight to the tank

Any other suggestions

 

[Peach02]

Howdy All,

I had 125 gallon mixed reef tank from 1991 to around 2000 but do to work, moving and family I got out of the hobby for the past 19 years. The love and itch to get back into the hobby has always been there. Well I am back and in process of researching and planning my new tank. Like I need another hobby I will be posting my build as I get closer.

I have around 200lbs of dry live rock that has been completely protected and stored in sealed a trash can all these years. (Always knew some day I would be back) The rock is a mix of Fiji, Tonga and Tampa Bay that was the old school live rock from the ocean. The rock when it was in the aquarium was very clean with no issues and a beautiful tank. I will do my aquascape with the dry pieces I want to use.

My question I have is what is the best way to get it ready for the new tank?

• Get a big bucket and let the rock run in some clean saltwater with power heads and not lights
• If so how long
• If I go this process will the rock cure again
• How long before ready for the tank
• Use lights at all.
• I do know what once I add to the tank will will want it go the cycle process to stabilize the tank
• Other options- just start with dry straight to the tank

Any other suggestions

Tbh I don’t think the Powerheads or lights are nessacary but soaking them may help as the rock seems to adsorb water when it’s first put in the tank
Maybe a week or two before putting it in the tank
The rock probably won’t get bacteria back because the bacteria is already dead
Theoretically you could put it in whenever
Up to you with the lights
I’m not sure what you mean with this question but if you supplement you could probably cycle in 2 weeks to a month
Yea you probably could put it straight into the tank Goodluck

 

[Dal-Reef]

Tbh I don’t think the Powerheads or lights are nessacary but soaking them may help as the rock seems to adsorb water when it’s first put in the tank
Maybe a week or two before putting it in the tank
The rock probably won’t get bacteria back because the bacteria is already dead
Theoretically you could put it in whenever
Up to you with the lights
I’m not sure what you mean with this question but if you supplement you could probably cycle in 2 weeks to a month
Yea you probably could put it straight into the tank Goodluck

Thanks for the reply.. Since the rock is dead once I add to tank will pick up a nice small piece of of Live Rock for LFS to help cycle..

 

[Mjrenz]

I would clean off any debris on the rock, put it in the tank, add sand, and then fill with water. If you let it cycle without adding any live rock you will minimize the chance of any unwanted hitchhikers in your tank

 

[Peach02]

Thanks for the reply.. Since the rock is dead once I add to tank will pick up a nice small piece of of Live Rock for LFS to help cycle..

Sounds good, link the build thread once you get started please

 

[Dal-Reef]

I would clean off any debris on the rock, put it in the tank, add sand, and then fill with water. If you let it cycle without adding any live rock you will minimize the chance of any unwanted hitchhikers in your tank

Thanks.. I get my hands on very clean Live rock but you are right about them hitchhikers. When first used this rock it was loaded with life.

 

[Dal-Reef]

Sounds good, link the build thread once you get started please

You bet with lots of pics

 

[Indymann99]

One man's "hitchhiker" is another man's "bio-diversity". ;-)

 

[JPergamo]

I used an acid bath with muriatic acid a few years back for some old live rock I had in a cichlid tank for a few years. I loved it, eats away the entire outside layer of rock.

 

[Dal-Reef]

I used an acid bath with muriatic acid a few years back for some old live rock I had in a cichlid tank for a few years. I loved it, eats away the entire outside layer of rock.

Thank for the post