Old Live Rock

[desert fishy]

I'm just starting a new tank and have a lot of rock that used to be live rock. What can I do to prep/clean it to use it again? I will also buy some good live rock, but don't want to have to buy all new live rock. Thanks for the help.

 

[extinct 1ne]

By old rock, you mean "dead rock?" If so, then you will have to cure it again. But if I remember right, if your just starting it in the cycle stage, maybe you can just add it in? Not that sure. Maybe someone more experienced can help ya, sorry.

 

[ryancw01]

Is it completely dead? Does it smell bad still? If it doesnt smell anymore then it is just dead base rock, which is fine because you don't have to cure it. You can boil it to make sure you kill any old dead things in there that might cause ammonia spike or you can go ahead and cure it if you have more patience than I do...
If it does smell still then you can cure it like you normally would with live rock...

 

[saltwatercowby]

I would cure it with the live rock. Rinse it and scrub the old rock real good. If the live rock you are buying is already cured then put a couple of the cured live rock in with the old rock and cure it like that. If you put live organisms in with the dead rock it will become live. I would cure it for at least 3 weeks. check for amonia and do water changes at least every week if not 2 times a week. After three weeks if amonia is zero you ought to be good to go