add dead base rock to established tank??

[saltyESQ]

can I just add it or will it possibly cause my tank to cycle?

I the tank is established for almost 2 years and I have about 60lbs of rock in the tank atm.
I just picked up 54lbs of base shelf rock, can I just add it to the tank?

 

[JenDub]

I would hydrate it in a container with synthetic saltwater and let it soak at least for two days with circulation before adding to my tank. Test for ammonia & nitrites before adding also just to be safe

 

[Bebo77]

i just put the base rock that i had in my tank... nothing went wrong.

 

[NALCOMIS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7841987#post7841987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JenDub
I would hydrate it in a container with synthetic saltwater and let it soak at least for two days with circulation before adding to my tank. Test for ammonia & nitrites before adding also just to be safe

I agree! test for copper too.

 

[energy_crisis]

If it's dead live-rock wouldn't there be remnants of organisms in its crevices?

Better take JenDub's suggestion; better safe than sorry.

 

[JenDub]

The bacteria in your tank can handle some ammonia & nitrite, the question is how much the rock will produce. If you keep sps I'd say add it slowly if you are putting it right in. Test along the way for ammonia.

Saltwater is a lot cheaper than replacing corals/fish. You could also do a water change & keep the tank water to put the rock in, just be sure to keep the water airated during the move or it will have some die-off.

Didn't even think about copper-that sure would suck!

 

[saltyESQ]

i picked up the rock from a fellow reefer and it is going into a fowlr tank

 

[moonpod]

Personally I'd fully cure the stuff. In my last tank I used predominantly dead tonga branch supplemented with some very, very live stuff. I cured it for like a month and that water was NOT pleasant. And this rock was DEAD. It's the stuff sitting in the bins outside of Pacaquafarms just baking away in the sunlight.

 

[Bebo77]

maybe it a good thing i put it into the 60 gallon i have in the garage and not the 300 lol

 

[saltyESQ]

what if I add 15lbs at a time to my main display?

 

[818]

I had around 125lbs of LR, then I added around 20lbs of dead rock and my water turned yellow, and it smelled like ****. I then got cyano, but luckily my cleanup crew came in on time with Gabriel, and I ran carbon 24/7.

My water was clear, and didnst smell after the carbon. I didnt have a skimmer at the time.

Sam

 

[WarDaddy]

I would cure it in a tub of saltwater with a powerhead for a month.

I have found that dead rock added to an established tank will turn into an algea nightmare.