live rock/sand?

[dpotts]

This afternoon I will be buying a used tank (30g) that comes complete with live rock and sand. The tank has been let go for that last little while so the rocks have some green hair algea on them. I was hopeing to use the rock in my new 90g....would I just scrap the algea off and then put them right in my 90g? The 90g is still cycling with no livestock! Now what about the sand? Can I use it or just toss it? I will be keeping the used tank and using it for a QT tank! I'm so excited that my 90g is slowly coming to life!!!

[mathias]

I wonder if it would be beneficial to cook the live rock... I know this was a practice that a lot of people used with live rock from different sources before throwing it in thier system.....

[dpotts]

Wouldn't "cooking" it defeat the purpose of getting "live" rock?

[vman181]

You will definitely want to "cook" the rock. If you just scrape it off you will not be able to get to the roots of the GHA and it will come back. I have tried your method before and just got mad down the road when it did come back full force. I ended up “cooking” the rock anyway. HTH

Kevin

[vman181]

You will lose some other beneficial bacteria on the rock however there will still be a good amount left. Since the rock is already established, you are mostly depriving the GHA of the light source and bad water it needs to thrive. Just make sure you do water changes and keep a filter and heater running.

[Ping]

I would use the sand as is.

Most of our rock already has the spores of Hair algae, Briopsis, Bubble algae, and others contained within. With time, the pores or our rock may become clogged due poor conditions, or the nutrients in the water column become conducive for the bloom of so called nuisance algae’s.

“Cooking” live rock is a newer term some genius in our hobby replaced the term “Curing” live rock with. Confusing a simple process.

Placing rock in a container of clean seawater with high current, water changes and possible skimming (too much skimming eliminates food sources for the life forms we are attempting to save). The idea is to allow the pores of the rock to become clear of dead matter (detritus) and become porous again. The micro life and sponges on and in the rock will open the pores and the current helps keep the pores open and the detritus in suspension so it may be broken down by natural processes.

This is the general premise.

It is easier to have high flow and more water changes in a smaller container.

[dpotts]

Thanks for the advice guys.