live rock now dead rock question

My parents had a tank set up but tore it down a little while ago. I took their live rock as I was planning on getting a saltwater tank. They had taken the rock out of the tank like a week prior to me getting it and it wasn't in any water so was dried out. I took it and hosed it off outside and left it out in the sun to bake for a month.

Is there anything special I need to do to it before putting it in my new tank? The tank I got was set up for over a year, but there are no fish in it currently. Would it be safe just to put the sun baked rock in it? Is there a chance of a cycle occurring? If there needs nothing special done how long should I just let it sit in my tank before I even think of adding any livestock?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

imo...without knowing size of tank or these rocks...just guessing, but I would add no more than 10 lbs. at a time...let it go a month or so...then add more etc. jmo : )

 

Why couldn't he add it all at once? He doesn't have any livestock.

 

Has the current tank had water in it for a year? Any substrate or other rocks to house bacteria? If not, sounds like a cycle may need to runs it's course regardless, before adding live stock.

 

The tank did and now still does have water in it. Right before I got it the person I got it from got lazy and used tap water in it and it got a huge nasty red slime out break that kind of killed off everything. I'm thinking it's going to have to recycle anyways, but since I'm new to salt I am double checking.

Oh and it does have sand and a couple rocks and miracle mud in the fuge.

 

Has the water remained stagnant? Was anything biologic in it to support nitrifiying bacteria?

Might be best to drain the tank, dry out the sand (then rinse it) and fill the tank with your rinsed sand, dry rock, RO/DI water, a piece or two of live rock and a couple of raw shrimp and start your cycle from scratch.

I would do it right from the get go instead of fighting with another person's setup down the road.

 

Hello
Since the live rock is now dead, I would consider you to boil them. Reason why is to kill any harmfull bacteria that may have grown or died on it. You should start fresh since the rock has dried out. Then when you add the sand and water in about 2 to 3 weeks your should be able to put chromis and some soft hardy corals, like xenia, colt, etc...

 

Before taking my previous advice (which I would still recommend): What are your parameters?

Salinity-

Phosphate-

Nitrate-

Nitrite-

Ammonia-

Alk-

pH-

 

The tank has been up and running since before I got it. When we moved it we just drained all the old water but kept enough in the tank to keep the sand wet and for the lone fish that is in it. There are snails and a couple hermit crabs in it as well.

I went ahead and put the rock in. I figured I'm better off letting the tank cycle over again and making sure the bacteria colony is good and strong after the move than risking it and having a tank crash from lack of bacteria.

I did pull readings a few hours after I put the rock in.

I use API liquid test kits
Salinity- 1.024/25

Phosphate- 0.25

Nitrate-0

Nitrite-0

Ammonia- 0.25-0.50

Alk-

pH- 8.0

No idea what Alk is, but KH was 12 drops of liquid..not sure if that is what an Alk test is or not.

 

Keep monitoring the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Looks like it might be going through a cycle. If your alk is measured in dlh, then it is fine.