Opinions on what to do with my rock

[kschweer]

I have heard a lot of different things about what I should do with my rock and I would like to get some more opinions. This rock was in my previous DT. It has been sitting since I broke the tank down after the storm. I have hosed it off really well and also soaked it in vinegar and water. What do you guys think my next step should be? Soak in rodi water for a little while? Or put it straight into some salt water with a powerhead or 2 for water movement?

Any other opinion/options would be great as well.

Thanks in advance guys.

-Kevin

 

[magic]

I think your going to have to cycle the rock again. Even though you hosed it off you still have a lot dead matter in the rocks that won't wash off. I would cycle it like it was new rock (water and powerhead) for a while.

Bob

 

[dppitone]

It's dead rock now, so it needs to be cured before putting into a running system, or it can be used to cycle a new system. If you put it in a system after that's done it's suggested you should mix it with live rock. If you succeed in getting good live rock that has diverse life apart from bacteria, it will seed your dead rock and in a healthy system re-establish the rock in a year + / -.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I think your going to have to cycle the rock again. Even though you hosed it off you still have a lot dead matter in the rocks that won't wash off. I would cycle it like it was new rock (water and powerhead) for a while.

Bob

+1 do some water changes and add some bacteria seeding...either live live rock or one of the additives.

 

[Zippy69]

If your new build is starting from scratch...just put it in and start the cycle. Even if you have dead matter, it will feet the microbes and enhance the cycle.

 

[downbeach]

If you etched it with vinegar, that should have removed any attached organic matter, and some possible PO4. I would place it in a container with some freshly made SW, let it cure, and check for PO4.

 

[ATLL765]

If your new build is starting from scratch...just put it in and start the cycle. Even if you have dead matter, it will feet the microbes and enhance the cycle.

What he said^^.

What do you guys think is the best way to start a cycle with dead rock is though? Live rock or bottled bacteria? And if you use live rock, would rock cultured in the ocean like the stuff you can get from various online vendors be preferable to something from the LFS or another person's tank? My thought there is that the ocean will allow the rock to be colonized with a diversity of life you'd never get from rock that was colonized in a tank. Or does it not really matter?

 

[dppitone]

There are outfits in California that sell live rock that is immediately harvested from Pacific reefs like Indonesia and Fiji and that rock will have the most normally occurring and diverse life from those regions. If you like the look of Gulf rock there are outfits in Florida, like Tampa Bay Saltwater that do the same. That stuff, mixed with some rock from another persons tank, is IMO the best mix and most cost effective way to import life to your tank. If money is no object of your system is pretty small, then getting all your rock through California would be optimal. It costs about the same as buying it through your LFS.

 

[kschweer]

Thanks for the input guys I appreciate it