Storing Live Rock

[TheLadyCrash]

After switching tanks from a 55g hex to a 45g rimless, I have 2 large and 1 small piece of live rock leftover. We plan to put up a new 180g tank in the next 3 - 6 months which I plan to use this live rock in.

We have 2 options for storing the rock until then:

1 - in a covered bucket with saltwater, no heater or circulation
2 - in a bucket with no water or cover to allow it to dry out

Which is the better option given we do plan to use the live rock in our next tank but don't know exactly when that will be?

Thanks in advance!

 

[thegrun]

Well if you do not provide heat and water circulation anything on the rock will be dead in a few months so I would leave it out in the sun dry.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yup, let it dry out. When you're ready to use it give it a bleach or acid bath to clean all the dead gunk off of it.

 

[snorvich]

After switching tanks from a 55g hex to a 45g rimless, I have 2 large and 1 small piece of live rock leftover. We plan to put up a new 180g tank in the next 3 - 6 months which I plan to use this live rock in.

We have 2 options for storing the rock until then:

1 - in a covered bucket with saltwater, no heater or circulation
2 - in a bucket with no water or cover to allow it to dry out

Which is the better option given we do plan to use the live rock in our next tank but don't know exactly when that will be?

Thanks in advance!

And . . .

[welcome]

 

[Misled]

And . . .

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

What they said!!!

 

[TheLadyCrash]

Thank you for the feedback everyone.

And thanks for the warm welcome! Got into the hobby back in December and well, now I'm a bit of an addict. :lolspin:

 

[thegrun]

Thank you for the feedback everyone.

And thanks for the warm welcome! Got into the hobby back in December and well, now I'm a bit of an addict. :lolspin:

...it happens and from my experience it doesn't get better!
Welcome to Reef Central.

 

[Reef Frog]

Well if you do not provide heat and water circulation anything on the rock will be dead in a few months so I would leave it out in the sun dry.

^ Yes. LR in stagnant water will get ugly and smelly real fast!

I can keep LR "alive" in a container at a room temperature of 72F with only a powerhead for circulation & no heater. The 50w pump adds some heat and the temp ends up being about 75F - enough to preserve some of the bacterial colonies on it if you add a pinch of fish food occasionally. You would want to keep evaporation in check and keep salinity stable in this scenario. But if you don't need it for months or years, it's probably better to clean & dry it and put it in storage.

 

[SeattleReefer]

I would do the acid bath now and put it away to dry afterwards. That way all the organics will be removed and it will be fresh, clean and ready to go when you are.

Plus, playing with acid is fun!