Revitalizing live rock
- Thread starter frbrd84
- Start date
Myka
Reefing since '93
Here is what I consider to be proper handling of dried rock. Without being this finicky you will probably end up with nutrient issues and algae troubles by using the rock.
Use a pot scrubber brush to remove as much dry gunk as you can. Get a Rubbermaid tub or garbage can of what have you, put the rock in there with RO water and let it soak for 24 hours, no need for powerhead or heater. If you are in a warm enough area take it outside and wash it with a strong hose spray (that's the easy way). If not, just use a pot scrubbing brush and scrub it real well in the laundry tub, kitchen sink, or bathtub. You soaked it in RO water so that it will not suck up a bunch of tap water while you're scrubbing and rinsing. Once it is scrubbed off and rinsed off (tap water is fine at this point) put it back into the Rubbermaid with RO water and a powerhead.
In one week test nitrate and phosphate in the rock tub. This tells you how much nutrients need to leech from the rock before you use it since the water will have about the same amount of nutrients in it as the rock does. Anything over 1 ppm PO4 and 10 ppm nitrate is quite a lot of nutrients. Next, test ammonia. If ammonia is detectable the rock still has decaying matter on it, although some ammonia if good because this will get the nitrifying bacteria going. After testing, drain 100% of the water and add fresh RO water. Circulate for another week. Keep this up until ammonia is undetectable, then add salt to the tub to 1.020 (to save some salt). After a few days of saltwater in there add a few pieces of fresh live rock from the LFS to seed some new life into the old rock (10% by weight is plenty). Carry on with the 100% weekly waterchanges until both nitrate and phosphate are undetectable. Then the rock is ready to go.
Use a pot scrubber brush to remove as much dry gunk as you can. Get a Rubbermaid tub or garbage can of what have you, put the rock in there with RO water and let it soak for 24 hours, no need for powerhead or heater. If you are in a warm enough area take it outside and wash it with a strong hose spray (that's the easy way). If not, just use a pot scrubbing brush and scrub it real well in the laundry tub, kitchen sink, or bathtub. You soaked it in RO water so that it will not suck up a bunch of tap water while you're scrubbing and rinsing. Once it is scrubbed off and rinsed off (tap water is fine at this point) put it back into the Rubbermaid with RO water and a powerhead.
In one week test nitrate and phosphate in the rock tub. This tells you how much nutrients need to leech from the rock before you use it since the water will have about the same amount of nutrients in it as the rock does. Anything over 1 ppm PO4 and 10 ppm nitrate is quite a lot of nutrients. Next, test ammonia. If ammonia is detectable the rock still has decaying matter on it, although some ammonia if good because this will get the nitrifying bacteria going. After testing, drain 100% of the water and add fresh RO water. Circulate for another week. Keep this up until ammonia is undetectable, then add salt to the tub to 1.020 (to save some salt). After a few days of saltwater in there add a few pieces of fresh live rock from the LFS to seed some new life into the old rock (10% by weight is plenty). Carry on with the 100% weekly waterchanges until both nitrate and phosphate are undetectable. Then the rock is ready to go.
