dead LR

[reeferkeeper]

I have a friend that used to have a reef set-up before I knew her. She wasnt very good with it and had so many problems that she just gave up. She pulled all the live rock and let it dry out. My question is...If I were to place the rock in my tank, how long before it would be considered "live" again. I dont want the rock myself, but I have a different friend that would like to set up a nano reef in a 20 gal. I would like to help him out by providing some LR and LS as well as some coral frags. Thanks!

[MontanaRocknReefer]

You should be fine with the "dead" LR and along with the LR and LS that you supply should have even the dead LR teaming with life! Just check your water to make sure the tank is stable and slowly add other live stock! Johnny

P.S. You will be surprised what can come out of dead rock over a period of time!!

[Spanky]

Hmmm

You know for all practical purposes, it's live when it either quits the ammonia/nitrite cycle or is able to cycle wastes in the system. Sort of the same thing as cycling dead sand.
Once bacteria has colonized it, it's live.

As far as having any critters growing on it, that will come in time.

HTH
Jerel

[FishDaddy]

Just a couple of caveats: Was the tank the LR was in ever treated with any Copper medications? Has the rock been exposed to any possible contaminants (insecticides, etc.) while being stored? If the answer is yes to either, I'd pass on it.
Dick

[reeferkeeper]

Thanks everyone.! What I was really looking for is if I put this dead rock into my aquarium with all my LR, how long do you think it would take before I could pull it out and put in a new system as LR? A week, month, longer?

Fishdaddy, I did ask if she ever treated her tank with anything and was told that the only chemical treatment was something for the red slime that was reef safe, I am assuming that it wouldnt have copper, she couldnt remember the name though It has only been out of the tank for about 2 months, but I have not thought about the storage. I do know that they have been doing alot of remodeling and painting and such, I really didnt think about asking her if it has been exposed to any of this stuff, but I will now..Thanks!

[Jimbo]

Hi, that dried rock may have plenty of organics in it, that will leach out over time. Would cure it in the dark for several weeks, before adding it to the tank.

[Big Dave]

I think the stuff I used once was ethromyacin. Something like that. Ask her if that sounds right. My corals didn't suffer any but still made me nervous using it. I have corrected my red slime breeding ground environment, so that's not a worry anymore! HTH

-Big Dave