View Full Version : How to cure "dead" live rock & sand
ROLLINS240Z
05/30/2009, 07:44 PM
I have a well established (2 Year) 115g tank. Im downsizing to a 60g cube and have purchased about 70lbs of dead rock (like macro rocks). I have had this rock in a tub in my garage for two weeks now with a power head. I don't want to add any of my current live rock due to aiptasia issues. I am moving and will need to transfer all my corals/clams to my new tank, so Im kinda under a time restraint to make this all happen (about 4-5 weeks). Do I need to seed this rock with some clean live rock and if so how long? (should this be judged by testing to make sure the cycle is over?) Also, I have some of the agronite sand, and should this be cycled also before adding to a new tank with corals/clams. Thanks everyone.
Rollins
mflamb
05/30/2009, 07:53 PM
The sand can be added as is. I start all of my tanks with dry rock. Put the sand and rock in the tank with a few cups of live sand or grunge from the bottom of a LFS rock tank and some live rock rubble with some good circulation. The live rock, live sand, rock grunge will have the bacteria necessary to jump start the tank, and the crud from the dry rock will provide the food. I would run a skimmer from the start.
ROLLINS240Z
05/30/2009, 07:56 PM
How long do you estimate to do this before I add all of my livestock? (I will be cutting and re-glueing all of my colonies)
mflamb
05/30/2009, 08:04 PM
As soon as possible. Every fish and coral adds to the bio load, so you need to give the bacteria time to multiply.
kjord97
06/10/2009, 08:49 AM
I just went through the same experience. I purchased a 28 gal JBJ Hqi from a friend. His rock was covered in hair algae. I scrubbed the rock and let it dry in the yard for a week. I then rinsed the rock again and now I have it soaking in the sump of the 150 gal reef. After a few weeks, I am going to start putting it back into the nano that I have running now with sand and a few corals only.
Aptasia X Yellow box, best stuff on the market, I killed 100 aptasia in about 20 mins, never seen any come back.
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