[thebradybunch]

I have 50-60lbs of live rock that has been out of the water for several years. I am using it as base for my reef and mixing it with new live rock. I know after a while the rock will become "alive" again. Does anyone have an idea how long this takes. I am not looking for the number of days or months but more like does it take weeks, months, or years.
Thanks

[NOSAJ214]

depending on how much new live rock u r putting in,(lets say 50 percent)with plenty of flow,filtration and current,it should become live within a couple weeks.how live is the question?that u will not know for about 6 to 12 months.good luck though dead rock is a lot cheaper than live rpck

[david6789]

Originally Posted by thebradybunch

I have 50-60lbs of live rock that has been out of the water for several years. I am using it as base for my reef and mixing it with new live rock. I know after a while the rock will become "alive" again. Does anyone have an idea how long this takes. I am not looking for the number of days or months but more like does it take weeks, months, or years.
Thanks

Weeks.

I would let it cycle with the new rock for 3 weeks atleast. Check water every 2-3 days, when the ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates go down your done.

[Ganrin]

I used the marco dry base rock. It is dry, cleaned formerly live rock, Id say within 2 weeks it had enough bacteria on it to be considered "live" rock for filtration purposes, at 5 months(about) in the tank with fiji live rock im seeing some coraline growth on the marco, and some amphipods crawling around on it at night. I will guess it will be another 3-6 months before it is as well coraline covered as the fiji live.

[thebradybunch]

Thanks everyone for all your help.