Live Rock Life Span!

cobs00 · #1 01/08/2005, 09:30 AM

A friend of mine is giving me about 60lbs of live rock. The live rock has not had any light for about 3 months but it has been in the tank with pumps, filters, etc. in proper water levels. Since there has been no light on the rocks, has this killed them or caused damage? I'm just starting out and I only have a tank and some pumps. If I was to transfer them to a bin with the proper water levels and insert a pump for a month or two, would that be okay. This will be done to allow me to save enough cash to buy lighting, skimmers etc.

Frick-n-Frags · #2 01/08/2005, 09:39 AM

There should still be various levels of bacteria population on it.

Probably not enough to support a huge sudden addition of livestock, but that rock would be fine to start up a tank with. You would just have to add animals (especially fish) gradually to prevent the tank from recycling from more ammonia than the existing bacteria can handle.

deansreef · #3 01/08/2005, 09:47 AM

i agree with fricks... if anything it should fare better being without light

cobs00 · #4 01/08/2005, 06:44 PM

Thanks

Saltz Creep · #5 01/08/2005, 06:47 PM

It probably has no nuisance algae left alive!

dberlin · #6 01/08/2005, 08:25 PM

Putting in a little fish food once in a while will help build up the bacteria level and also keep any pods and such alive too.

cobs00 · #7 01/10/2005, 09:10 AM

Thanks! I'm off to pick it up this morning.

traip93 · #8 01/10/2005, 10:04 AM

MAke sure you test the water the live rock is currently in for ammonia. If there is no ammonia, you should be fine. But expect some die off in your transfer, so don't add anything to your tank for a while after the live rock is placed in the tank.

I'd test again before adding livestock. Also rince the liverock as good as possible in the old water too.