Can "Live Rock" go bad?

Does "Live Rock" go bad if not kept in heated, circulated water? I purchased some live rock and put it into 5 gallon pails of salt water, the rock was totally covered. I put the pails in the garage on the thurs. we had guests coming over and pails of live rock aren't allowed in the main hall way apparently... But I kinda forgot about them untill Tues. so they were in the covered pails for 5 days no heat, light, circulation, etc... and now when I open up the lid it doesn't smell terrible but it smells kinda off, "fishy". I realize some/all of the little critters/bacteria in the rock have probably died, but does this mean I can't use the rock? What should I do with the rock? Do I just throw in in the tank, or do you give it a good rinse with ro water or salt water and then put it into the tank? Let me know your thoughts/suggestions. Thanks.

 

Dump the existing water , then add new saltwater. Add heat and flow and let it run for a week. Then change your water again and let it run for 3 weeks. You should be good to go then. You can always test the water towards the end to see what you are working with.

 

Is the rock going into a new tank or mature one?

 

The rock is going into a new setup.

 

New tank no livestock? I would rinse in saltwater and that's it. Any dead matter will kick start the cycle. And what live will continue to reproduce. Dose mb7 once a day for 2 weeks to help bacteria culture. Then check levels and it should be good to go

 

sounds like you had some die off, put it in new saltwater with circulation, rinse then repeat for a week or so before putting in a established tank, if its a new uncycled tank just throw it on in.