[Spectre]

I purchased 12 pounds of Dead rock today from my LFS. I have about 15 pounds of Live Rock. Im doing little by little trying to be patient. How long does it take for the Dead Rock to become Live rock so i can start adding more Dead Rock.

[tyoung]

Good question. I would like to know the answer to that to. lol I will have to read up on that and maybe I will find a good answer for you. I do remember reading that it will become liverock after a time, but don't remember if there was a time frame. I wuold think it would have a lot to do with how pourse the rock is along with how dence. Bacteria has to penatrate the outer surface in order to colonize. Something should be going on after the tank cycles though. Hope this somewhat helps and I will try to find out more. I am sure there is somebody that can give you a better answer than I have.

[kr7272]

The standard answer is about 60 days for most porus rock to become active with beneficial bacteria. If you wait 90 days, you will certainly be in good shape.

Make sure that you have good water flow, and that you already have beneficial bacteria in the tank. Go throw some biospira in if you like (although the cost of biospira kills the idea of trying to save money by buying dead rock )

[Scorpa]

Good way to save money. I plan to covert dead rock to live rock for my tank also. I have been told that it will be converted into live rock 2 to 3 months after you have had it in your tank cycling.

[crazygator]

i will say that a live rock "farm" leaves the rock in the ocean for two years before thy sell it as live. found this out when i went to the keys on my honeymoon. not very interesting job if that is all you do. most guys use it as a hobby or extra cash

[stupac21]

I did the same. I don't think there is a standard answer to that question, especially because there is such a differance between live rocks. I've had mine in the tank for about a year and it looks ok, but still not as good as the rock I bought as live.

[jvharding]

Well the benefits of using some dead rock are. Its a good base rock and no travelers have hitchhiked their way into your system. they will become live and maybe some of your best rock! My tank has sat idle for close to 2 years with nothing but my rock and water in it. All life gone and I just restarted my tank almost 3 months ago. I have purple and green coraline algae growing already Looking better than when the tank was established and running for year!

[kr7272]

I agree that the rock will need to sit for an undetermined amount of time (depending on tank conditions) before it looks nice, but as far as helping to clean your water via the Nitrogen cycle..... any porous rock should do the trick after 60-90 days in a tank with other live rock.

I may have misunderstood what was being asked???