Live Rock question. Help!

[dinger28]

So I ordered dry rock a couple months ago and started making it "live" again as soon as I received it. For 2 months, I have done water changes and everything needed to make it "live" again, but the water has changed in temperature (78F to 40F) since I didn't put a heater in there. Does that matter, or will the rock be good to go and I can put it in my 300 gallon? Have fish from my 240 I want to move over, but don't want to if my rock isn't "live." Thanks for the help!

Matt

 

[pyithar]

did u mean "live" by having beneficial bacteria on the rocks? i'm not sure if the beneficial bacteria can survive 40F. but you can put dry rocks straight into the tank after cleaning them well. they'll become "live" eventually.

 

[fishgate]

??? Live rock means live bacteria is living on the rock. As soon as you put it in the tank, bacteria will start colonizing it and it will become "live".

 

[dinger28]

I know all of this. However, I wanted to transfer my fish directly into the aquarium once this rock has been put in. Can rock only be live if fish are in there? Just didn't want to kill my fish if the tank hadn't cycle because of the rock that I put in there. Thanks!

 

[coralsnaked]

The bacteria in and on "live rock" should survive the colder temperatures, but its reproductive rate or population will be far less strong as it could have been. Just make sure you test for 0.0 ammonia and nitrite prior to placing in tank w/ livestock. And remember it will take some time for the rock to begin producing sufficient levels of bacteria to accommodate any significant bio load, so go slow. .

 

[dinger28]

Thanks coralsnaked. Have 5 smaller fish that will be going in there for now from my existing 240. Will see how that goes for a couple months before I start to add more. Thanks again and any other input is appreciated!

Matt