Live rock mishap

[Laura Kelsey]

Hi
So I had bought some live rock from someone for very cheap and got about 50+ lbs. He gave it to me cheap as he had put it in buckets of saltwater and when we got there the water was practically frozen as it was in his garage and it got to be -14 here. It still was very colorful and I was going to cure it anyways so I bought it.

I didn’t have a big curling tub set up yet so I wrapped the rock in saltwater soaked paper towel and put it in trash bags. Less than 24 hrs later I had it all in a tub of saltwater with a pump running. I thought I was good to go... well little did I know my pump was so strong that it warmed up the water extremely. I went downstairs this am and the water was a little over 100 degrees . I grabbed some water to test it and ammonia was sky high (duh). I drained almost all the water and dumped new saltwater in, put a power head in there instead and now the temp is 80.

How bad did I *** up the rock and what do I need to do to save it/get it to a point to use it in my tank. My 75g already has about 60+ lbs and I wanted to put a few more pieces in.

Thanks!

 

[jay0705]

Your screwed!!!!! Lol jk. At near freezing it was pretty much dead rock. The heating shouldn't have had much effect bc everything should have been dead from the cold. Now basically your going to cure it, leave it in your tub. 80 is fine. Let the powerhead do its thing. I would only change water if it gets really nasty. You have alot of die off hence the ammonia. Once that has stabilized you should be fine. Atleast you don't have to worry about pests LOL

 

[Jesterrace]

Yup, it will take quite a while to develop beneficial bacteria again, but it will do so. 80 degrees is fine for just cycling live rock. What are you using to jump start the cycling process? (ie fish food, bacteria, a piece of cycled rock, etc.).

 

[Laura Kelsey]

Yup, it will take quite a while to develop beneficial bacteria again, but it will do so. 80 degrees is fine for just cycling live rock. What are you using to jump start the cycling process? (ie fish food, bacteria, a piece of cycled rock, etc.).

I added bio-Spira to the tub. Once ammonia and nitrites stabilize to zero I’m assuming i can add it to my actual tank?

 

[jay0705]

Yes but it may take some time