tank/rock storage question(newbie)

[draginit]

hi all, i am completly new to this hobby and eager to get started. i recently picked up a 90gal tank with all the equipment. basically it was fully operational(awsome looking!) with fish two months ago and drained for the move to my house. unfortunaltly im moving again in 7 months and dont want to set it up yet until im in my new permanent dwelling. so im going to take the next 7 months as an opportunity to lurk around this forum and learn as much as i can from you guys.
-so that leaves me with two questions to start. 1. how do i store the tank? will it crack or damage any seals if there is no water in it for a long period of time? its currently indoors and will stay where it is until i move.
2.how do i store my live rock? i have just under 130lbs of rock currenltly in a rubbermaid container with about 4" of water in it. will they be fine like that for just over half a year?
any help or suggestions is appreaciated and i wish i was already moved so i could start setting up, but its probly a good thing too as i know nothing of this hobby yet. thanks

 

[ameno]

I asked the same question about live rock about 6 months ago, and this is what I ended up doing, completely cover the rock with saltwater 1.023 to 1.026 SG. keep the temp. in a normal range around 78 to 80 deg. and keep a power head in for circulation. I keep mine covered with no light to it. seemed to work out fine that way. the tank should be ok since it's in the house, just not good to leave it exposed to the sun and heat for a long period

 

[draginit]

cool, thanks i will give that a try. theres a lid on them now so thats good i will continue to keep them out of light.

 

[1journeyman]

Covering your live rock is going to lead to a lot of die off. Since you are going to store it anyway I'd suggest putting it in the aquarium and filling the aquarium with water. Throw in a bit of food from time to time to feed the critters.
Live rock is called "live" because of all the different things alive in it. As with most food chains on earth, light feeds it.
Check the ammonia in the water. I suspect it is sky high. You will need to do water changes on it to save anything left alive.

 

[1journeyman]

Welcome to the forums, btw!

 

[draginit]

interesting. i like this idea as i could, i guess, keep a low level of water in the tank for the rock to survive and at the same time i wont have this just empty tank sitting in my room for half a year. would be easy to to prepare for the move too when that time comes. thanks, i will start reading up on levels now so that i might be able to preserve them this way! if i do this i'll just have to remove temptation of buying any fish!

 

[chano]

Originally Posted by draginit
i'll just have to remove temptation of buying any fish!

Good luck!! so far that is the hardest part of the hobby for me had to buy two tanks cause my first was only a 29. Just doesn't hold enough pretty stuff for me to look at.