Dead Live Rock

[FLYNLOW]

Just picked up some guys dead live rock today. About 90 pounds of it, an 80 gallon tank, and around 100 pounds of "live" sand.. again, been sititng in a bucket for 3 weeks for $100. The rock has been sitting out of water for about 3 weeks now, so most of everything is dead on it. I have a 72 Bowfront that I picked up a month ago or so and set up which has been cycling with maybe 20 pounds of LR and 2 eels and a lion fish donated to me from a friends tank to get me started. The tank currently has around 75 pounds of Live Sand in it, a wet dry filter and a protein skimmer. My question is, what should I do with the LR I just ought to get it aquarium safe? I don't plan on keeping the eels or the lionfish as I don't wnat an aggressive tank. Should I just dump the dead rock in there, donate the fish and let it cycle with some fresh live rock to reseed the dead stuff? Or should I treat the dead rock someway else? Ideally I'd rather not have a fish tank thats empty of any fish for a few weeks or longer. This rock is pretty dead as is, and I wouldn't really mind just cleaning it or sterilizing it or whatever and re-seeding with some fresh live rock.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Just picked up some guys dead live rock today. About 90 pounds of it, an 80 gallon tank, and around 100 pounds of "live" sand.. again, been sititng in a bucket for 3 weeks for $100. The rock has been sitting out of water for about 3 weeks now, so most of everything is dead on it. I have a 72 Bowfront that I picked up a month ago or so and set up which has been cycling with maybe 20 pounds of LR and 2 eels and a lion fish donated to me from a friends tank to get me started. The tank currently has around 75 pounds of Live Sand in it, a wet dry filter and a protein skimmer. My question is, what should I do with the LR I just ought to get it aquarium safe? I don't plan on keeping the eels or the lionfish as I don't wnat an aggressive tank. Should I just dump the dead rock in there, donate the fish and let it cycle with some fresh live rock to reseed the dead stuff? Or should I treat the dead rock someway else? Ideally I'd rather not have a fish tank thats empty of any fish for a few weeks or longer. This rock is pretty dead as is, and I wouldn't really mind just cleaning it or sterilizing it or whatever and re-seeding with some fresh live rock.

This isn't a hitchhiker question but I'll give you an answer.
It is completely unnecessary to cycle tanks with live fish or eels. Take the lion and eel to your LFS and see if they'll take them in trade for some more live rock. Simply clean off the dead algae, sponges, etc. off of your old rock, put the rock in your tank and let the tank cycle on its own. The live sand and other live rock will seed the rock.
I would not add any fish to your tank for at least 2 to 4 months after the cycle even though that may sound painfull to you.
btw toss the wet dry filter and just use the skimmer.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[FLYNLOW]

I didnt really have a choice with the fish and eels. My buddy took down his 155 and needed a place for the fish to go while he moved. I originally filled up with some of his sand and 50 some odd gallons of his water. I guess this isn't the right topic area, I rea dthe "coral, ROCK, and Sand Hithhikers wrong...

And since I have this 80 gallon tank I'm not using and have no plans for, I could just cycle the dead rock and dead sand in there, in the garage and keep my tank with some fish. I have a 1200GPH pump I could use for that. Will they need heat? Lighting? I know I'm supposed to do a bunch of water changes while curing the rock, for the initial die off and continued rotting, could I just use freshwater, and change to salt during the last few weeks?

 

[Anonymous]

And since I have this 80 gallon tank I'm not using and have no plans for, I could just cycle the dead rock and dead sand in there, in the garage and keep my tank with some fish. I have a 1200GPH pump I could use for that. Will they need heat? Lighting? I know I'm supposed to do a bunch of water changes while curing the rock, for the initial die off and continued rotting, could I just use freshwater, and change to salt during the last few weeks?

No. While you may think the rock is dead you'll be extremely surprised by what can survive. Use saltwater, a heater and some light (it doesn't have to be the best or brightest), bury a piece of shrimp in the sand, use a filter or skimmer and do water changes every few days or so. After about 3 weeks or so your rock and sand should be set to go.

Regards,
David Mohr