Live rock question

[kleach]

Hey everyone,

I broke down my tank over a year ago and I've had the live rock sitting in a rubber maid brute container with water. The rocks are sitting in my parents basement so I completely forgot about it and some of the water has evaporated out exposing the top few rocks. I'm putting together a FOWLR at the school I teach and wanted to know if it's safe to put that rock in there and cycle the tank normally. I recall hearing people needing to cycle previously live rock for months to get all the nasty dead stuff off of it. Is that the case or can I just use my rocks, both the ones still in water and those that aren't, and do a regular cycle?

The rocks on the top are the best ones I have so I'm hoping I can use them.

Any hep would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks

 

[DgenR8]

If you aren't expecting the rock to give you a magical, super fast cycle, I can't think of a reason not to use it (other than known pests). It'll cycle normally (in my head, normal is 6-10 weeks), likely even on the short side of normal, if much of it has really been kept "live".

 

[Bananafish]

I actually did this after losing my tank to Sandy. I had my rock in a tub with water and a heater and powerhead. I fed the rock some flakes now and then to keep the bacteria alive. Worked very well and when I set my tank up it cycled fully in under 2 weeks. I even had my corallines grow back, but nothing else made it so no worms

Just rinse the rocks off well and don't use any of the water from the tub. You need to cycle, but it will be short

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[kleach]

Perfect! Thanks guys