Preparing Cured Live Rock for My Tank

[$eaba$$]

Hi guys,

Currently, I have about 13 or 14 lbs of live rock in my 20gallon tall. Tomorrow, I will be purchasing more live rock, maybe another 7 or 8 lbs or so. This is basically so that I can stack rocks higher for corals, and obviously it helps with bio filtration. Anyways, I have a few questions. This rock is coming out of a very established and very successful tank. Just to make sure, I want to take some precautions as to avoid unwanted pests, such as crabs. What do you guys suggest I do with the rock before I put it in to the tank to get crabs and other bad things out somehow?

Thanks!

 

[MMOORE0324]

Well unwanted hitchhikers are all apart of the game. First of all, you don't know exactly what is in the rock. There is going to be some bad, but alot of good stuff. Not all crabs are bad. You are going to have a little die off from the rock probably so you will want to wait a week or two before adding livestock. Kinda like a mini cycle. You just have to deal with the pest as they come... good luck

 

[crvz]

You could set the rock in a bin for a while to QT it. Just a simple rubbermade tote with a powerhead/heater will give you time to investigate the rock and see what may come out of it. Of course it would be easier in a tank, and a 10-20 gallon tank on the side is pretty cheap. I know a lot of folks who QT live rock before adding it to their system.

 

[$eaba$$]

I already have plenty of things in the tank, I'm just wanting to add a bit more of it. Alright, I'll just put it in a bucket of saltwater I guess and see if I see anything in it. Oh, and any additional information welcome!

Thanks.

 

[$eaba$$]

any body else?

 

[iamthereefguy]

You should be fine if the rocks came from an establish and successful reef tank

 

[$eaba$$]

yeah, they did from an established tank, but were used in the sump. I have them in a bucket now with a powerhead and heater, just to try and find hitchhikers. I will put them into my tank shortly.

Thanks.

 

[$eaba$$]

Well, I checked, and there was some ammonia present in the water because of die off. As the ammonia builds up in the bucket, should I change water to dilute the ammonia, or is that unnecessary? If this is not needed, then I won't do it, because it would only waste salt.

 

[boilermaker1]

Dunk it in Hypersalinity... maybe 1.030 or so... anything in there will come screaming out.

 

[$eaba$$]

I guess I will try that, but will someone please look at my last question regarding the ammonia?

Thanks!

 

[$eaba$$]

anyone?

 

[$eaba$$]

bump.

 

[IPT]

I'm no pro, but I would do a partial WC. I would think that there should be enough bacteria on the Live rock to ultimately neutrailze it but you don't want such high levels on Amonia that it kills off other goodies.

 

[smorrow5773]

I suggest keeping the rock elevated off the bottom of the container about 4 inches using eggcrate. Put a small amount of food in the bottom and any pests will usually come out of the rock, fall to the bottom and not be able to get back up. Keep the water well oxygenated and add amquel to figh the ammonia. You would be surprised by the life that can pull through an ammonia spike in the rock, it just takes longer to re-establish.

 

[crvz]

I'd do a water change as well, if it's a small bucket I'd probably do a 100% water change at that.