How long does it take for dead rock to become live?

[Meloco14]

I had some live rock rubble that i wasn't using in my tank, so it has just been sitting outside and is now dead and dry. I am setting up a nanocube and plan to use live rock rubble in the back. So in anticipation of this i put these rubble pieces into my existing tank to let them seed. I just need them to become active with bacteria, since they will be in the filter compartment they don't need coralline or anything. About how long will it take to get these pieces live with bacteria? I will also get some real live rubble from an LFS to suppliment, but I wanted to be able to use these too since I have no current use for them. I will probably set up the cube next weekend. Will these rocks have some bacteria by then? Or should I leave them in the existing tank for like a month or so? Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

8 weeks will do but it will take longer to fully colonize the rock.
but after 8 weeks you will definitely be 'active'.

 

[ricky1414]

i second podman, about 8 weeks is what mine took, but hte coralline began seeding about 3 weeks after the rock's introduction.