Using rock from another Aquarium

[themcfreak]

Hello all,

I have a 'QT' I set up some time ago that has had water/rock/sand and running for a while. However, I have not done anything with it. I don't have any livestock in it. I don't feed it anything, it just sits there with water running (heated, filtered, etc).

Is is 'safe' to take the live rock out of here and put in main tank? Any potential side effects? I want to tear this tank down, but wouldn't mind 'saving' the rock.

Thanks.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

It should be perfectly safe to do so, yeah! I wouldn't keep the sand because it tends to get grody. But otherwise it should be 100% fine.

 

[Rjukan]

I agree with @Mr_Knightley it will be just fine, yeah! Well, as long as you didn't medicate with copper while it was on QT duty.

I actually just put 4 rocks in my sump that have been out in my garage in a Rubbermaid in SW for at least 10mo. Through last winter and the heat of this summer, no adverse effects whatsoever. Bacteria can handle some extreme conditions.

 

[JCTReefer]

If it was just used for a Qt observation tank and never had any meds in there, it’s perfectly fine to use. You wouldn’t add meds with rock in a Qt anyways. As above, I’d ditch the sand. Maybe give the rock a scrub and rinse in tank water before placing in the other tank.

 

[themcfreak]

Will the rocks have phoshates/nitrates in them? I hear of rocks leaching phosphates, will this throw off balance of anything? Thanks for all the answers, they are great

 

[JCTReefer]

Will the rocks have phoshates/nitrates in them? I hear of rocks leaching phosphates, will this throw off balance of anything? Thanks for all the answers, they are great

Only one way to find out!!! Test!!! You could always take a few rocks out, put them in a five gallon bucket with heater and circulation and let soak for a couple days. Then test for any leaching. If you do find the’yre leaching high amounts of Po4, you can dose Lanthanum Chloride. Repeat the process as much as needed until phosphates are minimal. If you’re in a situation like me, to where you have to dose phosphorous weekly to keep from bottoming out, then a little phosphate isn’t going to hurt anything!