How to keep live rock alive?

[Nickmcc]

I removed some live rock from my tank and placed it into a bucket of 5 gallon saltwater. Will the bacteria die if I let it sit outside?

 

[NeilFox]

Keep it aerated or put a powerhead in there. it will be OK for a few days but eventually it will just die off. Does it have any life on it? Sponges, tube worms etc.?

 

[Nickmcc]

Nope I don't see any visible life on it. I just have it outside in the bucket filled to the top.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Aeration, water movement or water changes should keep the bacteria alive. I have 200 lbs of what was very live rock in 2 Brutes full of fresh water sitting outside in the Florida sun. It's been 3 weeks and I've done several fresh water changes and the rock looks pretty dead now, but to my surprize, there are still sponges alive on the rocks!