Live Rocks

[keenst91]

I just purched a tank from friend and all the fish died in his tank.
He took out all the fish and thought it would be too expensive to buy more,but he left the rock in the tank with the tank still going but with no lights on. Is this rock still safe to use, or should i do anything special to it first like let it sit out for a month or something like that.

 

[bertoni]

[welcome]

The live rock will be usable if the tank was never treated with medications, especially copper. Do you intend to keep corals?

 

[keenst91]

it was never treated with anything but i do know that all the snails and inverts died in the tank as well, and everthing was just left in the tank. no corals just live rock.

 

[bertoni]

Well, the live rock should be usable. I don't know why all the invertebrates died, though, and that's a concern. I might consider an acid dip for the rock.

 

[keenst91]

what is an acid dip and where do i get it..

 

[keenst91]

will the acid dip kill all the beneficial bacteria on the rock?

 

[bertoni]

An acid dip would kill most everything on the rock, and the process is a bit dangerous. You'd need to put water into a tub, and then add muriatic acid, in a 10:1 water to acid ratio. Then, dip the live rock for 20-30 minutes. The bath would help remove copper, phosphate, or other chemicals in the rock, and it'd certainly kill any pathogens.

 

[keenst91]

since that is so difficult and/or dangerous is there any other way??... I know the guy didnt use any meds at all on the tank, he reall just didnt take care of it I assume causeing all the life to eventually die off..and thanks for all the info!

 

[bertoni]

If he didn't use any medications, and there's no bad hitchhikers, the live rock likely is fine to use as is, although I'd cure it for a while. The only other issue would be phosphate adsorbed onto the rock, which can cause algal problems.

I personally wouldn't be willing to do the acid dip, either. Just seems too dangerous.

 

[keenst91]

cool sounds good...I hate to keep asking dumb questions but how do I cure the rock? Do I just leave it in my new tank?

 

[bertoni]

Yes, just put it in the new tank and let it age for a bit, maybe 2-3 weeks, if there's no ammonia spike.