can dead rock become alive again

[ken s]

i am looking at purchasing some "live rock" that has set out and dried for a year or so. will my current live rock cause the dry rock to grow again?

 

[dale serbousek]

Good question...unfortunately I do not have an answer; however, I too had a once "live" rock that was boxed up for a year after I tore tank down. I set the "live" rock out on the patio to dry out for a week then packed it into storage. I recently started my new tank and placed this rock in the tank. After 1.5 months, it seems to be growing green coraline (I think) algea that the other live rock does not have. Maybe this could be something from deep within the rock. I am anxious to hear what others say.

 

[volitan]

What makes lr "live" is the coralline growth, and the copepods living in it. Put the rock in your tank with some new lr. Eventually, it will grow coralline and will be considered "live" again. Just be sure to clean it first to make sure there is nothing in the rock to contaminate your tank. I would suggest boiling the rock. HTH.

 

[dad]

I did the same as Dale.
But I cannot get coralline to grow on it?
But (another but)I did not boil it.
I had a thread going about this a year or so ago.
And no one really knows why. It just happens.
Volitan is right though. Good luck,