rock question

[aandfsoccr04]

If I am taking an established tank down from one location and moving it to another and don't want to set the tank up for another month or so what is going to happen to all the fiji live rock if there is no water in the tank? Does it all just turn to dead rock or what exactly will happen?

 

[yehchien]

yes, the rock will die if it's dry. It won't smell very good either. I would suggest that you keep the rock in some sort of container with tank water in it. You just need a powerhead and a heater. You'll probably lose some of the critters. If you can't keep all of it wet, try to keep as much as you can wet. You can always seed dead rock later.

 

[kingfisher62]

Invest in a rubbermaid trash can, place all the rock and old water in with a heater and some power heads. In a month your rock will still be alive and healthy.

 

[kingfisher62]

Ahhh, ya beat me to it!

 

[aandfsoccr04]

does it need light or anything or can I just leave it in the garage with just the heater and powerhead? What temperature should I try and keep it at?

 

[yehchien]

You won't need light... In fact its probably better so nuisance algae doesn't grow. Keep the heater at the same temperature as your tank.

 

[kingfisher62]

You might do better keeping it inside the house because all of the pollen around lately especially if your garage door is open a lot. You can partially cover but you need some air getting in there for oxygen exchange. As Ken mentioned, no lights are needed and about 78 degrees.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I actually don't know if it was really "live" rock because it was just sitting in the sump and the tank wasn't really running with anything in it for the past few months. The lights werent being used or anything like that so I doubt that there is anything living in it. Should I put some RO water in the trashcan anyways or just leave the rock in the trashcan?

 

[yehchien]

Even in the sump it had beneficial bacteria, worms, copepods, sponges, etc... They don't need light. By keeping it wet, you'll shorten your cycle time. Don't use plain RO water, use salt water.

It's up to you. If you want to keep it dry, just make sure to pick up some live rock to seed your dead rock and be patient when you start your tank again.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

so you think it is worth it to go the pet store tomorrow and get maybe 10 gallons of saltwater to fill the tank up and throw a koralia 4 in the trashcan?

If the rock was bought dead and then seeded in the tank with live rock could it still have beneficial bacteria in it?

 

[aandfsoccr04]

????

 

[yehchien]

Sorry, i'm not following you. Is the rock currently wet? If so, yes, it would be worth keeping some of it wet for later... But if not, don't bother, just buy some new live rock or borrow from a fellow reefer when you set up the tank to seed your dead rock.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I went and bought a tank that was being used by a local guy. There was nothing in the tank except rock and water. The lights weren't being run and there was a powerhead circulating water. 20% of the rock was in the DT and 80% was in the sump in the dark.

 

[kingfisher62]

If the rock was kept in water than it should be fine. Light is not needed for LR. Do you see any life on it?

 

[yehchien]

if the rock was kept in water than it should be fine. Light is not needed for lr. Do you see any life on it?

+1

 

[aandfsoccr04]

there doesn't look to be a lot of life on it but I didn't examine it too closely. I just took it out of the tank and put it directly into a big garbage can.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

How long without water will it be ok. I don't have them sitting in water at the moment. Just in the garage in the trashcan and they have been out of water since Monday night. Is it too late?