minimum live rock temperatures to keep live

[VitaminD]

I just salvaged a reef tank setup with about 50 lbs of decent rock and 40 sand. brought it home and set up in garage with circ pump, its still cool out , im able to get water to about 60 -65 with small heater i have , will the rock survive this at the temp until i get more heaters or get enough time to setup tank next week ?

 

[brandon429]

It would be better to raise it w extra wal mart heater but only for the possible worms and possible sponges adapted to prior settings--the bacteria wouldn't die off even if you bumped it down to fifty, it takes massive and sustained temp extremes to kill off nitrifers complexed in films and insulating communities. It will retain filtration ability

The likelihood of the rock legitimately pumping out ammonia in small amounts upon reheating is more possible here than just moving live rock among tanks, it's rather tough in those cases.

 

[sc50964]

Ocean water can be plenty cold and yet the rocks in the ocean would stay live. So I think you really don't need a heater. I don't recall ever seeing LFS using a heater in their live rock section.