Help with Dead Rock

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Hi8iS

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 27, 2009
57
0
36
Detroit
Hello,
A question on dead rock. I had a fire in my home around 6 months ago & had to tear down my tank a 120g with about 200 lbs of live rock between main tank & 55g refugium. I pulled out the fish & coral. They have been at the lfs since then. I had no place to put any of the live rock so it has been sitting in a garage in several 5g buckets. It has been sitting there dry for 6 months. It has some dried algae etc on it & still has decent color.
I just set up a 90g 2 days ago w/ 29 refugium. All the sand is directly from my neighbors 300g reef. The question is if I use this rock will it cause any problem? I still have several large pieces at the lfs full of coral that will help seed the dead rock once the tank cycles. Will what's left on this rock be enough to start my cycle? Will it take longer for the cycle to take place due to what may be left on the rock? I don't really want to boil the rock if I don't have to. I don't like the bleached white look. I did blast all the rock with the hose to remove anything lose. Since this is a new tank still needing to cycle, once the cycle has been completed will this rock cause any problems?
 
Theres nothing aquatic live on 6 mo old dry rock just dust and perhaps terrestrial micro life but nothing to cause enuff ammonia to start cycling - the sand however should - if you have aqua cultured rock at the lfs w/ corals I'd start there, Scrub the crap off the old rocks - add them and the coral rocks then test and take adding fish slowly as B+B only grows in size to it's demand.
 
Thanks, Do you think adding the rock with corals would be detrimental before the cycle has ran it's course? Or would I be better off purchasing 20 lbs of live rock while letting the coral sit @ the lfs until the cycle is complete? Is the coral bothered by the Nitrate & ammonia spikes associated with the cycle? I also planned on throwing a couple damsels in to help kick start the process.
 
first I would scrub that dry rock that has been sitting. All that dead stuff is gonna be holding onto mucho phosphates, then you can through in the dead rock with your live sand and the bacteria will quickly inhabit your old rocks. dont put any corals in yet, or anything thats alive for that matter. do you have a test kit/ test for nitrates and ammonia until your at zero, then you can start adding the pretty in. many people put corals and CUC before fish, but I add fish first since its my theory that since they add more bioload and will really jumpstart the nitrification process.

add a damsel if you want, just make sure it is one that you like since he will be in there for life. I like clowns and the LITTLE blue ones like allens, kupang or springer damsels.
 
I wouldn't worry about adding corals - they are attached to aquacultured rock should be plenty of B+B on them already HOWEVER it may be better of safe than sorry
 
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