Adding dried out live rock to established aquarium

AWIL57 · Apr 30, 2019

Hello all,

I recently got about 12 pounds of live rock from my dad's old tank that's been dry for almost 10 years (only one piece has any noticeable dead organics). I already have 100 lbs of rock in my tank that has been running for 3 months. I've tried to read as much as I can on this but like so many things in this hobby there seem to be a ton of different opinions ranging from acid / bleach baths to just adding a piece of it every 2 weeks to my current set up after a soak and scrub in RO/DI or saltwater.

I'm in no rush but would like to have it added sooner rather than later. Also I'd like to avoid the acid because of the dangers it presents and there isn't much rock so I don't want to lose any of it through breakdown that comes from this process.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

flooddc · Apr 30, 2019

That's not too much rock to add. I'd give it a good soak, spray it with a garden hose. Let it dry and use it. The ratio is too small for you to even notice any change in your tank.

AWIL57 · Apr 30, 2019

Should I soak it in RO/DI or saltwater? I have really really hard water where I live, should I still use the garden hose to spray it off?

Thanks!

LiveWire · Apr 30, 2019

How big is your system? If your system is only 3 months old I would rinse it and put it in a food grade container of saltwater and add some live nitrifying bacteria and a heater and let it sit for a 3 weeks to a month. Then I would add it all to the system. It may be over kill but if your system is new Its a safe option.

AWIL57 · Apr 30, 2019

It's a 125 gallon with a 40g breeder sump but had some fresh live rock to seed all the mined rock I added. My levels have all been perfect for the last 2 months so I was hoping that a quicker soak would work. I have some bacteria so I could do this no problem.

LiveWire · Apr 30, 2019

AWIL57 said:
It's a 125 gallon with a 40g breeder sump but had some fresh live rock to seed all the mined rock I added. My levels have all been perfect for the last 2 months so I was hoping that a quicker soak would work. I have some bacteria so I could do this no problem.

How much livestock is in the system now?

AWIL57 · Apr 30, 2019

2 clowns, 3 firefish, lmb, royal gramma

LiveWire · Apr 30, 2019

That's a large system with not much in it at all. I would say you are fine adding the rock to the system and will most likely have no issues. But If you have a little time I would just soak it for a week and put it in the system.