Old live rock

Sgt Jonny Cat · 01/26/2015, 12:52 PM

I took a small piece of live rock out of my tank this summer (about 2 lbs) and it has sat in my garage since then. I just noticed how much I like the look of it and want to put it back in. Can I just put it in? Or do I need to do something to it first??

Thanks all....

tmz · 01/26/2015, 12:57 PM

I'd give it a bleach/water bath overnight and dry it out for a week or so after if it were going into my tank.

Paul B · 01/26/2015, 02:27 PM

I would just throw it in. But that's just me

SGT_York · 01/26/2015, 02:35 PM

Rinse it off with old salt water. There are many posibilities, likely there was some die off which would spike your nitrates/phosphates. Bleaching and waiting would eliminate most of those nutrients. Anything from your garage could have contaminated it gasoline vapors, pesticides, etc. Recuring it in old tank water is the best bet, but there is little risk if you know what your rock was exposed to, just a rinse and toss is a good option.

Weight the risks and the cons with what you have in the tank and how severe a bit of nutrients would mean. Only you know the details of the rock.

01/26/2015, 12:52 PM	#1
Sgt Jonny Cat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: North of Boston Ma. Posts: 685	Old live rock I took a small piece of live rock out of my tank this summer (about 2 lbs) and it has sat in my garage since then. I just noticed how much I like the look of it and want to put it back in. Can I just put it in? Or do I need to do something to it first?? Thanks all.... __________________ In the process of putting together a 150 gallon mixed reef. Ill keep you posted. Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon

01/26/2015, 12:57 PM	#2
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I'd give it a bleach/water bath overnight and dry it out for a week or so after if it were going into my tank. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

01/26/2015, 02:27 PM	#3
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	I would just throw it in. But that's just me __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

01/26/2015, 02:35 PM	#4
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	Rinse it off with old salt water. There are many posibilities, likely there was some die off which would spike your nitrates/phosphates. Bleaching and waiting would eliminate most of those nutrients. Anything from your garage could have contaminated it gasoline vapors, pesticides, etc. Recuring it in old tank water is the best bet, but there is little risk if you know what your rock was exposed to, just a rinse and toss is a good option. Weight the risks and the cons with what you have in the tank and how severe a bit of nutrients would mean. Only you know the details of the rock.