Live rock question

[cgray07]

So I have about 75 lbs of live rock that I had in my previous tank. Before I tore the tank down I was having a terrible time with the parameters and decided I needed to take a break since I joined the military. Now I want to start up again and I asked around at a lfs in the area about my live rock. They said that it probably soaked up nitrates and was slowly leaking them into my tank and that's why I was having issues and there was no saving the rock. Is any of that true and if not how can I save the rock and start over new? Or should I just buy new rock all together?

 

[shifty51008]

of course you can save the rock, has it been underwater (SW) with a heater and powerhead the whole time your tank was down?

if it has been all you should really have to do is swish it around in fresh SW and and place it in the tank and off you go to start your cycle

if you stored it dry or just in stanget water I would eith powerwash it or soak it in a acid/water mix bath first then rinse it off real good, let it dry out then put it in your tank and start the cycle.

no reason to get rid of good rock. sounds like they just want to try and sell you stuff.

 

[whiteshark]

I tend to disagree with the above. If you had high phosphates and nitrates in your previous tank the rock likely has soaked up a lot of it and a simple swish in fresh saltwater won't get rid of it. I do agree with the above in that you can acid wash it and use it as base rock.

 

[thegrun]

i tend to disagree with the above. If you had high phosphates and nitrates in your previous tank the rock likely has soaked up a lot of it and a simple swish in fresh saltwater won't get rid of it. I do agree with the above in that you can acid wash it and use it as base rock.

+1