Dead Rock

I TOOK ALL OF MY LIVE ROCK OUT OF MY TANK FOR HYPO TREATMENT AND I THINK I NOW HAVE DEAD ROCK. I HAD NOWHERE TO PUT IT EXCEPT A 5 GAL. BUCKET AND IT HAS HAD NO LIGHT SINCE I TOOK IT OUT MAYBE LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO. I WAS STUPID FOR NOT FINDING A PLACE FOR IT, BUT AT THE TIME ALL I CARED ABOUT WAS MY FISH. WELL, NOW I'M CARING ABOUT MY $150 LIVE ROCK. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I PUT THIS ROCK BACK IN MY TANK? I'M SCARED I CAN'T USE IT ANYMORE.
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Well this could have been avoided with a cheap rubbermaid tub, cheap heater, and a powerhead. Did you have any water movment going with the rock or a heater? You will probably have some die off. Smell the rock and see if it stinks or still smells like sea water. Put a powerhead in there for a few hours and bring it up to temp and then smell it. If it smells ok you might be able to use it still if it stayed wet.
If it stinks you may need to cure it again. I would advise the rubbermaid tub deal again.
Just my thoughts
Thomas
 
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thomas712

Guest
Well thats a bummer. Ok you started with live rock but now it has downgraded to uncured live rock I would say. But you have kept it wet all this time so, sometimes liverock can suprise you with what is still alive.
Here is what I would do.
Your are going to have to recure your rock. this can be done with a rubbermaid tote or garbage can and some good powerheads, the more circulation the better as it will allow the rock to stabalize faster. If you can use a protien skimmer on the rocks while it cures so much the better. If there is a possability that life still exists on the rocks then use lighting if you have it. It is not necessary to use lights just to cure live rock, but if there is any life left on it the lights will help to keep it alive. Mix up some fresh salt water and use it now, you may have to do several water changes during the course of the next few weeks. This procces could take up to 4 weeks or more, depending on how bad the die off was.
Fresh saltwater, powerheads, heater, protien skimmer if possable, and lights if need be. Got it?
Thomas
 
i went and got a new trash can and added another powerhead and about a 10" air stone along with a small heater. unfortunately, i have no other lights so i'm still looking for that. no skimmer either. it looks like a lot of circulation in there, you've got me on the right track. thanks for all your help.
 
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