Want to use old LR for new tank

[O-Pee-Chee]

To be clear, it's not going in an established tank so I'm not worried about going through a full cycle or anything.

I think there's actually a small hole in the top of the lid for when I transported fish long distances and wanted to stick an airstone in there so hopefully there isn't too much gas buildup inside but regardless, it'll be opened outside for sure.

I'll give it some good rinsing and maybe stick it in another empty tank with a powerhead for a bit and get it all clean though before it hits the new tank.

Thanks for the input.

[O-Pee-Chee]

I opened up the buckets very carefully just now and was actually surprised to see the water is completely clear. There's some brown crap around the sides of the bucket and some speckles of brown on the top of the most rocks but I can actually see all the way to the bottom of the bucket. Still going to go through all the normal procedures but I was just surprised to see it so clean looking.

[Reefer Rob]

If there isn't any livestock in the tank I would pressure wash it and set the tank up with it. Be sure add a few pieces of live rock to re-seed it. It's going to be loaded with phosphate so it may take a few months before the tank is habitable.

[O-Pee-Chee]

It's not a huge amount of rock and I've had it in my possession for 5 years now.. It's just rock is stupid expensive around here (~9 a lb) so it'll cost me about $200 to replace it. I don't need anything for the tank so the idea was it would be free and easy to get going.

I do worry about phosphate leaching tho. I had serious algae problems before but it was in a stock biocube with the bioballs and everything in the back so it was more likely caused by the nitrate factory in the back. I'm not using my biocube this time tho.

So, I guess the real question is, should I just buy new rock?

[canadianbudz604]

If your really worried just cook the rock, use a powerhead, heater, Rubbermaid bin, and complete darkness.