***ADVICE ON DEAD LIVE ROCK***

[dannywwhite]

Hi guys,
So this is my dilema. I used to have a very simple reef with live rock. Lots of critters, a few fish, and a few coral. But I took ONE vacation, and left it in the care of a pet sitter (whom we've had before), and rather than follow my instructions, she dumped so much food into the tank, the ammonia spiked in a split. I came home to find EVERYTHING dead. I couldn't even see the rocks it was so disgusting. 1000's of dollars literally down the drain. The fumes were unreal. But ANYWAY. I am starting from scratch! I don't want to spend another couple hundred on new live rock, and I am wondering if, and how I could bring my dead live rock back to life. I've heard to wash the crap off, and submerge in freshwater, but I don't know if that will work. I need some advice, or personal experience from my fellow fish lovers. I'm trying to save as much money as I can, because rebuilding is going to be insane.
Thanks guys!
-Danny

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dannywwhite http:///t/397757/advice-on-dead-live-rock#post_3546420
Hi guys,
So this is my dilema. I used to have a very simple reef with live rock. Lots of critters, a few fish, and a few coral. But I took ONE vacation, and left it in the care of a pet sitter (whom we've had before), and rather than follow my instructions, she dumped so much food into the tank, the ammonia spiked in a split. I came home to find EVERYTHING dead. I couldn't even see the rocks it was so disgusting. 1000's of dollars literally down the drain. The fumes were unreal. But ANYWAY. I am starting from scratch! I don't want to spend another couple hundred on new live rock, and I am wondering if, and how I could bring my dead live rock back to life. I've heard to wash the crap off, and submerge in freshwater, but I don't know if that will work. I need some advice, or personal experience from my fellow fish lovers. I'm trying to save as much money as I can, because rebuilding is going to be insane.
Thanks guys!
-Danny


Hi,

It's called 'live" rock because of the tiny critters that live in it... the rock itself is just a rock. If the tiny critters are dead, or you submerge the rock in freshwater or dry it out...it is just rock, nothing is alive in it anymore. Just like base rock, you would have to seed it with life infested rock, and wait for the tiny critters in the rock to populate and move into the rock for it to become "alive" again.