Cleaning Live Rock?

Ok so im lucky enough to have a source of LR directly from the ocean. My question is should I scrub it or clean it before I put it right into my tank fresh? Will it possibly start another cycle and kill my fish?

 

Do you roughly know how much rock you have?

 

prolly about 20-25 pounds

 

I would just add it!!
Is there any legal issues regarding doing this though?

 

Maybe dip it into some saltwater and shake it around to get rid of some stuff, a freshwater or high salinity dip to get rid of any hitchikers you don't want, back into the frest to rinse again and shake it around, then into the tank.

Since it's in the ocean, it should be pre cured and pre cycled for ya, without any die off. Depending on how far the rock has to travel to your tank. At the most it'll start a mini cycle that is survivable.

 

It's your tank , But I'd never add it god knows what all problems could be in and on that rock from killer shrimps to disease. Amazes me people all talk about quarantine fish and corals but will toss a nasty hunk of infected or pet laden rocks in to their systems in less then a heart beat. Hell it could even have a byrospis algae spore or some other algae on it ..And if you do toss it in then you will get a cycle!!!! maybe large maybe little depends on how much is on and the rock to die .. I know bacteria will die and thats what Live is used for the bacteria not the stuff living in and one it..

 

if you are just starting a tank I would just chuck it in but if this is an established tank I would qt rock as tangster says

 

Mix up some saltwater, with a high specific gravity, like 1.035 or more, leave it in for a minute, and all the unwanted stuff with abanden ship.

 

I beg to differ. I have to agree with Tangster here. If I were you I would nuke (bleach) the rock and then put it in as base rock. Then you know your not introducing any pests.

 

Not likely. Most mantis shrimp can withstand very high salinities. Often they get trapped in tide pools and as the water evaporates the salinity goes through the roof. They are used to this kind of abuse.

Not a bad idea, but you should still quarantine the rock for a week or two.

Unless your tank is designed to hold the most bad*** hitch hiker, like mine. ;D

EDIT: also if he collected the rock locally and it has a mantis, it will most likely be said coastal species.