¿Dry rock question?

[MurphysLaw]

So I recently purchased a new 75g reef ready tank and stand (Thanks Rob: Phenom5). Upgrade thread coming soon. I have some dry rock that has been dry for several months that was given to me for free with some frags. I would like to put it in my sump when I upgrade to my new setup. My question is do I need to do anything to the rock before putting it in my sump? (I.e. rinse with RO/DI, cure it in a Rubbermaid, or should I not use it at all?)

 

[CReyes350]

Not too long ago I transferred all my livestock and establish live rock from a 72g to a new DSA 80g. I also added two basketball sized dry rocks into the new system at that time. I only rinsed the dry rock with RO/DI and added it to the new system.

About a week later, I started to get Nitrate readings, which killed "Starla" the orange starfish . I am not sure if the dry rock was the sole contributor to the nitrate spike or if the system was adjusting to the new tank...

If I had to do it all over, I would probably add a little dry rock at a time, after rinsing it with RO/DI, to my established system and monitor it for any parameter spikes. Once all of the dry rock became live, I would move everything but the sand into the new aquarium.

And please let me know if you dont use it lol

 

[aquaph8]

Wade, just put it in a bucket or trash can with RO and change the water a bunch of times over like a month. It really depends on the rock and how much stuff died out in it. I've seen some really bad dinos from dry rock though, never hurts to be on the safe side. You could also always do. Bath in Muratic acid if your worried about it. I used a couple pieces of BRS reef saver rock and had no issues at all.

 

[MurphysLaw]

Yea that is kinda what I was thinking. It's going to be a week or two before I transfer so I think I will rinse a piece and put it in my current sump and then do 1 at a time. Thanks.

 

[MurphysLaw]

Thanks Brett that sounds like a good plan. The rock looks really plain like it was either not even used or used very briefly.

 

[CReyes350]

I automatically thought the dry rock was BRS reef saver rock, which is what I used... malo de mi... (a very loose Spanish translation for "my bad" lol)

Yeah, it doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions with dry rock because there’s no telling what that "once live" rock has been through

BRS and Caribsea I think are pretty safe with a quick rinse.

 

[KingTutt]

I cure in a large rubbermaid tub with salt water (catalina) and massive flow
Water change every 2 weeks or when the wife starts yelling about the smell