LFS rock, is it safe?

[Scubagal8]

Hi,
I went to a LFS and they sold me "previously live, now dry rock. He said just leave it in the sun for a while. Now I've been reading about hitchhikers, problems and live vrs dry rock and wished I didn't buy it. Anyway I can figure out if it's safe and still use it?
tyia,
Lori

 

[billdogg]

It will almost certainly be just fine. If there is still dead matter encrusted on it scrub it off (or pressure wash). If you want to see if it will leech anything, soak it in a bucket of saltwater for a week or so and then test the water. PO4 will be the most likely finding. If you otherwise trust the LFS, I'd go ahead and use it without reservation.

hth!

 

[jmsilhy]

What I did when I got a batch of once live rock, and seems to be working fine, is that I threw it in a bin with regular water and some bleach for a week. After that I rinsed it really well and washed it with one of those hose attachments that shoot water a little harder (not even a power washer). Then I rinsed it with rodi water, threw it in a brute trash can with salt water, a pump and a few pieces of live rock for a few days, and then continued the curing process in my display tank. I'm still in that process waiting for the cycle, but so far it seems like it was a good method for getting rid of anything unwanted.

 

[Sk8r]

Po4 (phosphate) is the main issue, but that can be fixed by soak and water changes, or by phosphate remover. If too much phosphate, you get a lot of hair algae, but again, it's fixable. Hitchhikers are usually good ones, excepting big-clawed crabs, but none are likely to survive drying out. The rock we use is limestone, which consists of remains of ancient sea creatures. Oceanic chemistry continually dissolves and recycles it as new corals take it up and use it.