Jump Starting Dead Rock

[Anonymous]

I have some old LR which is now DR (dead rock)sitting in a drained tank I'm going to fill again to do a FOWLR. I would like to take a couple of pieces of the rock and put them in an existing tank to get the biological filtraqtion going. Question: How long do they need to be in the old tank before they are seeded enough to transfer? I do understand that the stocking level of the new tank will need to be VERY light and slow until the rest of the old rock seeds from the "jump started" pieces.

-Greg

 

[Anonymous]

The established tank is over 10 years old and fully aquascaped. I really don't have any free rock to pull out that wouldn't screw up the coral placement or leave holes in the shrooms/polyps.

I really don't mind the time frame. I'll also be adding some sand from the existing tank with some MO sand critters.

-Greg

 

[BCReefer]

I am in the midst of starting over again after I did some things wrong. I am currently reading some books and researching what I really want to do. I have about 25 lbs of LR in a 27 G tank with no fish just 5 – 10 hermit crabs. How long will the LR stay live? I am still doing water changes and ensuring all the parameters of the water stays constant but I will not be adding any fish for at least a month. Or just by running it makes it still live?

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

In New Zealand all you can buy is dead rock - (any live rock has to have an "allowed" coral attached to be legally imported - insane I know since a rock is a rock).

Just add salt water to the tank and wait for it to cycle - there's no need to seed it with bacteria - it will only take three to four weeks to cycle anyway.

Coraline and small criters will need to be introduced so you should get a small piece of CLEAN dead rock growing in your old tank so that you can add it once the new tank is stable.

 

[JohnD]

Greg,

To answer your question, I would put the dead rock into an up and running tank for 4 to 6 weeks in order to seed it. From there, I would add it back to your new set up. You could just feed the tank regular fish food as a source of ammonia. The bacteria in the new live rock do need food. Run a powerhead or two to help disperse the bacteria. Your tank should cycle fairly quickly. Check your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

Why don't you consider putting a couple of pieces of LR into the tank you are setting up along with your dead rock? From there, you can add the food to feed the LR and associated bacteria. You could save that 4-6 weeks time period.