Live Rock

[denny80689]

Im looking to purchase some live rock from a fellow board member. He has the rock out of his tank sitting in buckets. How long is it safe to let LR sit without heat and filtration? Has this LR essentially become dead rock or is it fine to let it sit like that?

 

[nate0729]

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me. It still needs heat and movement. The waters just goin stagnant.

 

[denny80689]

yeah thats my concern. If there is major dieoff from it Ill have to recure the rock. then its not really worth the hastle. Any other opinions??

 

[airforceb2]

Most everything has probably died on the rock...depending on how long it has been sitting and at what temp. I've seen some rock sit for a month in 80 degree standing water and still have some life on it.

 

[kdfrosty]

You're going to experience die off from the rock when he ships it to you anyways. If you do buy it, there is no way around curing the rock. It might be a good purchase if you are trying to cycle your tank, depending on how long it's been sitting in tubs of water for.

 

[denny80689]

Im trying to see how long its been sitting. I will be picking up the rock in person so shipping wont be a problem. I can keep it in tubs of water...
just got another e-mail...
He tells me it was taken out of the tank yesterday and I will have it tomorrow. As long as that is accurate I should be ok.... right?

 

[mudplayerx]

I personally would not worry about the live rock dying in the buckets. Some lagoons are the nastiest, stinkiest, stagnant puddles of filth, yet still have flourishing live rock in them. You most definately need to cure them before putting them in an established tank.
Like others have said, you can put them in a cycling tank and actually use the dead parts to feed the cycle. This is what I did with my first batch of rock and it worked great... although it made the room pretty stinky for about 2 weeks.
Here is a thread on live rock and curing it:
FAQ Live Rock

 

[dontyss]

How much is he charging you to purchase it?
I picked up mine for $3/pound and picked up at a wholesale warehouse in Los Angeles CA.

 

[denny80689]

$3.50 a pound with good growth on it. In an established system. Ites been in the buckets for 3 days but he said as of yesterday was running heat and a powerhead with it. Im picking it up today and Im going to leave it in a container with a powerhead and heat and test it daily for about a week to watch for any spikes. if all is well Ill put it in my main tank.