Myka has posted a good guide to cooking live rock. "Cooking" means keeping it in the dark for 4-6 weeks at the right temperature, salinity, ect with frequent water changes. It is important to keep the rock in pristine water while it cures so you preserve the good bacteria living in the rock that will become a part of your biological filitration.
Not everyone will agree with me on cooking rock. But IMO it is better to start with fully cured live rock free of unwanted algae than MAYBE save a mystery hitchhiker coral.
Keep and eye on the livestock board. Often people give away good starter corals.
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