Can I reuse rock ?

[oscaaar]

Hello everyone my question is I had a cycled rock from my lfs in a Homedepot bucket in my new basement in stagnant saltwater just enough to cover the rock for a few months now.

Would it still be considered live rock or would it be dead ?
do I need to re-cycle?

 

[Dan_P]

Hello everyone my question is I had a cycled rock from my lfs in a Homedepot bucket in my new basement in stagnant saltwater just enough to cover the rock for a few months now.

Would it still be considered live rock or would it be dead ?
do I need to re-cycle?

Unlikely to be dead but who knows what’s growing on it now under stagnant conditions. I would toss the rock.

 

[kbnh]

There will likely be die off in and on those rocks, put it in a separate tank/tub/bucket and re-cycle it, don’t risk it. I did something similar to what you’re suggesting and ended up losing 90% of my euphyllia and my biome definitely took a noticeable hit.

 

[oscaaar]

There will likely be die off in and on those rocks, put it in a separate tank/tub/bucket and re-cycle it, don’t risk it. I did something similar to what you’re suggesting and ended up losing 90% of my euphyllia and my biome definitely took a noticeable hit.

One of the main reasons I asked , afraid to use it and kill everything I have.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would bleach clean the rocks and start over.

 

[Rjukan]

Hello everyone my question is I had a cycled rock from my lfs in a Homedepot bucket in my new basement in stagnant saltwater just enough to cover the rock for a few months now.

Would it still be considered live rock or would it be dead ?
do I need to re-cycle?

I guess I'm way off from these other replies, they all sound so extreme to me.

Bacteria doesn't need optimum conditions to thrive, nothing terrible has happened to those rocks. I would do a sniff test.. odds are they smell fine. Make 2 new buckets of SW, use one to dunk the rocks a few times, then put them in the other bucket with a small powerhead. Leave for a day or 2 then I would use them.

 

[Dbichler]

I guess I'm way off from these other replies, they all sound so extreme to me.

Bacteria doesn't need optimum conditions to thrive, nothing terrible has happened to those rocks. I would do a sniff test.. odds are they smell fine. Make 2 new buckets of SW, use one to dunk the rocks a few times, then put them in the other bucket with a small powerhead. Leave for a day or 2 then I would use them.

I agree completely. Why would someone waste the rock to only pay for new rock? Just put the rock in new water with flow and repeat until it’s clean much cheaper and already has a jumpstart compared to the other options.

 

[Paul B]

As long as the water didn't evaporate to the point that stalagmites are forming and it doesn't stink, I would use it.

 

[oscaaar]

I guess I'm way off from these other replies, they all sound so extreme to me.

Bacteria doesn't need optimum conditions to thrive, nothing terrible has happened to those rocks. I would do a sniff test.. odds are they smell fine. Make 2 new buckets of SW, use one to dunk the rocks a few times, then put them in the other bucket with a small powerhead. Leave for a day or 2 then I would use them.

Yeah doesn’t stink just has alage that already had on it to begin with before being placed in the bucket.

As long as the water didn't evaporate to the point that stalagmites are forming and it doesn't stink, I would use it.

as far as evaporation not sure , the rock was completely submerged believe as same as I left it. Doesn’t seem to have changed or anything form just been in still water for a few months

 

[Spare time]

Unlikely to be dead but who knows what’s growing on it now under stagnant conditions. I would toss the rock.

Are you worried about hydrogen sulfide deposits?

 

[Dan_P]

Are you worried about hydrogen sulfide deposits?

On second thought, I wonder if you could just scrub the rock in saltwater with a brush to remove the accumulated slime on the surface. Then if you wanted to test the rock for ammonia consumption capability, you could place it in saltwater with 1 ppm ammonia just enough to cover the rock. The ammonia should be consumed in several days if the rock’s bacteria are working.

Less conservative aquarists might just rinse the rock with saltwater and use it

 

[Rjukan]

Yeah doesn’t stink just has alage that already had on it to begin with before being placed in the bucket.

as far as evaporation not sure , the rock was completely submerged believe as same as I left it. Doesn’t seem to have changed or anything form just been in still water for a few months

Just toothbrush the algae as you're dunking them, will be fine.

 

[oscaaar]

On second thought, I wonder if you could just scrub the rock in saltwater with a brush to remove the accumulated slime on the surface. Then if you wanted to test the rock for ammonia consumption capability, you could place it in saltwater with 1 ppm ammonia just enough to cover the rock. The ammonia should be consumed in several days if the rock’s bacteria are working.

Less conservative aquarists might just rinse the rock with saltwater and use it

Will give it a try

Just toothbrush the algae as you're dunking them, will be fine.

will take it into consideration and clean it and give it a try

 

[scope2reef]

I am in a similar situation, rocks from old tank stored in water for 3 weeks. I am thinking about using them in a brand new tank and start a cycle.

What did you decide to do with your rocks?