Long-term storage
- Thread starter ctripi
- Start date
HighlandReefer
Team RC
It does not take long to re-seed bacteria in and on your live rock. I would just clean it well of all organic matter and store it dry. Soaking the rock in a bleach solution will remove organic matter.
Sterilization (microbiology)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(microbiology)
Sterilization (microbiology)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(microbiology)
HighlandReefer
Team RC
If you dry the rock you will loose your mushrooms, sponges....etc. The only way you will be able to keep them is to maintain them in reef tank parameters with proper lighting.
Re-seeding rock for what I was referring to, was simply to re-establish the bacterial growth in and on the rock which would help reduce the nitrate and phosphate in your system. This would not take long to cycle if it is clean of all pest algae....etc.
The reason why live rock takes so long to cycle is that you will usually have a lot of dead life on the rock. The dead life will brake down and increase your nitrate and phosphate until the bacterial build back up and it is all gone. IMHO, live rock only serves to introduce the possibility of unwanted algae, cyano & other pests like ciliated worms.
If you need to store your rock for a long term, I would clean all organic material (live and dead things) on your rock. Soak it a clean it in bleach several time till it is completely clean. When you build your new tank, put this stored clean rock in the tank. Then place a few pieces of high quality live rock from a trusted friends aquarium. This will serve to introduce the coralline algae and other wanted organism onto your dead rock. It will not take that long.
FWIW, as you can see, I have a real problem with so called live rock from the ocean full of unwanted pests (algae, cyano.....worms.....etc.). The same with the so called live sand.
Once you get pest problems in your tank, they can be a real time consuming and expensive problem which is not worth it. You only have one shot at setting a system up and not getting these pests.
A similar scenario would be if you live in a roach infested apartment and wanted to move. How would you go about packing your stuff to help keep the roaches from moving with you. You would want to kill all the roaches in the old apt. and your belongings before you move. Then you would want to treat your new place before you move in. The same applies with your tank. This is a good reason to use quarantine tanks.
Re-seeding rock for what I was referring to, was simply to re-establish the bacterial growth in and on the rock which would help reduce the nitrate and phosphate in your system. This would not take long to cycle if it is clean of all pest algae....etc.
The reason why live rock takes so long to cycle is that you will usually have a lot of dead life on the rock. The dead life will brake down and increase your nitrate and phosphate until the bacterial build back up and it is all gone. IMHO, live rock only serves to introduce the possibility of unwanted algae, cyano & other pests like ciliated worms.
If you need to store your rock for a long term, I would clean all organic material (live and dead things) on your rock. Soak it a clean it in bleach several time till it is completely clean. When you build your new tank, put this stored clean rock in the tank. Then place a few pieces of high quality live rock from a trusted friends aquarium. This will serve to introduce the coralline algae and other wanted organism onto your dead rock. It will not take that long.
FWIW, as you can see, I have a real problem with so called live rock from the ocean full of unwanted pests (algae, cyano.....worms.....etc.). The same with the so called live sand.
Once you get pest problems in your tank, they can be a real time consuming and expensive problem which is not worth it. You only have one shot at setting a system up and not getting these pests.A similar scenario would be if you live in a roach infested apartment and wanted to move. How would you go about packing your stuff to help keep the roaches from moving with you. You would want to kill all the roaches in the old apt. and your belongings before you move. Then you would want to treat your new place before you move in. The same applies with your tank. This is a good reason to use quarantine tanks.
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HighlandReefer
Team RC
That question can be divided up.
I would put sterile dead rock in for most of your rock. Good quality live rock purchased from a trusted reefer can be a different story. You just want to make sure that the reefer you purchase the nice live rock does not have any unwanted pests in his or her tank. Buying the rock in tubs from reefers or fish stores can be trouble.
I would put sterile dead rock in for most of your rock. Good quality live rock purchased from a trusted reefer can be a different story. You just want to make sure that the reefer you purchase the nice live rock does not have any unwanted pests in his or her tank. Buying the rock in tubs from reefers or fish stores can be trouble.
I placed all LR of my old 125G reef aquarium, in a 40G plastic tub with 3 powerheads and a TUNZE nano skimmer for 35G.No special water changes,no livestock,just 3 pepermint shrimp.
The rock was full with sponges, tunicates,coralline and aptaisias.
After aproximately five months I made a new tank and the LR in it.
I found no special amount of sponges, or other beneficial life form, fortunately most aptaisias where consumed by the pepermint.Most of the fauna (copipods ect) where not found despite my occasional feeding with varius powdered plancton feeds.The rock has propably absorbed phosphate salts, as there is a big problem now with hair algae growing on it.Most of the coraline where intact, despite not having lights except in direct light from the window.
I haven't decided yet if it was a good idea to retain the rock in the tub from the first place...
The rock was full with sponges, tunicates,coralline and aptaisias.
After aproximately five months I made a new tank and the LR in it.
I found no special amount of sponges, or other beneficial life form, fortunately most aptaisias where consumed by the pepermint.Most of the fauna (copipods ect) where not found despite my occasional feeding with varius powdered plancton feeds.The rock has propably absorbed phosphate salts, as there is a big problem now with hair algae growing on it.Most of the coraline where intact, despite not having lights except in direct light from the window.
I haven't decided yet if it was a good idea to retain the rock in the tub from the first place...
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Tasos,
If your rock has algae pest on it I would treat it with the bleach method. Then I would treat it with the vinegar method to help rid the phosphates from it. You don't want to mix bleach and vinegar together, this can be dangerous. You will need to clean the rock before each treatment with a chemical to remove the bleach.
If your rock has algae pest on it I would treat it with the bleach method. Then I would treat it with the vinegar method to help rid the phosphates from it. You don't want to mix bleach and vinegar together, this can be dangerous. You will need to clean the rock before each treatment with a chemical to remove the bleach.
Oh God, no!! I didn't mean I want to sterilize my rock.It has a few sponges and some tubeworms that I can see, and I expect it to have spores or tiny tissues of other animals also.....
Algae is slowly disappearing, so I suspect that phosphates are also reduced...
Nevertheless, thank you for the advise
Algae is slowly disappearing, so I suspect that phosphates are also reduced...
Nevertheless, thank you for the advise
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Tasos,
If you want to keep the sponges, I would quarantine this rock first, before putting it in your main display. You will need good light to see what will grow. If it develops pests that are problems you can try to get rid of them in your quarantine tank first. If the pests prove to much to gain control of in the quarantine tank, then you will have to make decisions.
If you want to keep the sponges, I would quarantine this rock first, before putting it in your main display. You will need good light to see what will grow. If it develops pests that are problems you can try to get rid of them in your quarantine tank first. If the pests prove to much to gain control of in the quarantine tank, then you will have to make decisions.
wld1783
Premium Member
Just toss it in a container...Food safe with an airstone and heater. Skimmer if you can.
What needs light will die, the sponges and micro fauna will feed on what is available. Do water changes to keep the quality good. Once in a while toss in some food for the micro fauna. Top off with RO water.
If not sell it, the street price is $4.00 and you can buy clean dry shipped for $2-$3
At least you will be helping out a fellow reefer avoid $8 LFS price for sorta cured live rock.
Bill
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