Bacteria on live rock and sand

[Thakki]

How long does the bacteria survive on a live rock and sand? Rocks...especially when they get shipped...or when you have a wet sand sitting in buckets for long time...how long is it good (live) for?

 

[EmdeReef]

Nitrifying bacteria can’t survive without moisture, if the live rock is completely dry then most will probably die. Other conditions such as oxygen etc will also impact survival rates.

It can survive a while without food, but will be in what’s referred to as the stationary phase. Resuscitation requires a trigger which in most cases will be a concentration of NH3.

Various studies out there in terms of how long it survives without food, ranging from weeks to months and even longer.

 

[lapin]

Think of it this way. Take a rock out of the ocean wrap it in newspaper for a few days. Take that rock and set it in a bucket of water for a day. Would you drink that water?

 

[Thakki]

Haha...makes sense. But I wouldn't even dare drinking water from dry rock either.

Anyway, the point is...I had bought live rock which was shipped exactly like you mentioned...took 2 to 3 days before I put it in a brute can for two weeks with a heater and a pump in it. Over the weekend, I tested the water params and found high ammonia and nitrates. So I am assuming there was some dead organic matter which may have caused the ammonia spike...and since they were live some bacteria survived and converted ammonia to nitrates. Did 50% water change and back to cycling. Was curious if anyone had the same experience.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes. That’s common.

 

[Thakki]

Thanks. Just did another test...zero ammonia and 2 ppm nitrates. Added few drops of Tim's ammonia to feed the bacteria.