Newbie with a project (needing help)

[out on a limb]

Oh no another newbie.
Just bought a 45 (oceanic) off of ---- w/apx 50 lbs of LR (?), protein skimmer couple of rio power heads, a rio 1400, over flow, heater, a 10 (used as a sump) and apx 20 lbs of aragonite for $160, no lighting at all.
My question is the set up appears to have been sitting (in SW) w/no water flow for quite some time. Will the rock come back?
I do understand this will be a project and have done quite a bit of reading so far (with a lot more to come). Just want to know if there is anything I can do additive wise to help the process along.
Thanks,

 

[rooksy]

Sounds like you got a good deal. As for the LR, you are going to have to cure it for a while. I also think could use it as base rock but it all depends on how long it's been sitting out. You will get some things form the rock but probably not much. I would say cure trhe rock for at least a month keep checking the readings and when they become normal go a head and put it in the tank. Good Luck
If the tank has been sitting empty you will need to clean that out as well, before you try and cycle it.

 

[out on a limb]

Can I use the tank to cure the rock?

 

[option720]

you can cure the live rock while you are cycling the tank. They go hand in hand. Just keep checking your levels.

 

[thereefman52]

most likely nothing will be living in the rock untill you add more rock and it will then start harboring benificial bacteria.. MO.. anyone agree??

 

[thereefman52]

BTW.. you did get a great deal

 

[angelgirl]

Great deal!! Good for you, I would just set everything up, fill it up and then watch for awhile you should have enough die-off for the tank to cycle, and then you will be in business. Just keep an eye on your test results and do them often. You also might want to add alittle new live rock and live sand.
Have fun
Angelgirl

 

[reepher]

You got a great deal! How long has the rock been sitting in the sw? I had some lr that sat for a couple of months that jumped back to life after some time and good water condition.

 

[car guy]

i dislike the idea that rooksy shot out, you don't have to recure lr if it just sat in a tank, you peole think you have to cure lr if you pull out of the water for a split second, or if you transfer it from one tank to another, YOU DON'T