I am breaking down my saltwater tank and dont know what to do with the live rock.?

Question

I would like to sell in on ebay or craigs list but do not know how I should go about storing it until it sells. I have already taken the tank down and dont know if I should just keep the live rock in a bucket of water or let it sit without water. If I can keep it out of water how long before it "dies"

I live in Michigan. The pet store will take the rock but not buy it. How long will it live in the bucket with a powerhead and water?

Answer 1

You'd need to keep it in oxygenated water (so a powerhead or strong air pump would be necessary just to keep the bacteria alive. The coralline algae would last a while even without bright lighting (but it should have a minimal amount of light).

Another option might be to see if there's a pet store around you that would be willing to buy it for resale. If they have saltwater tanks already, they could just combine it with their other live rock.


ADDITION: With a little light to keep the coralline algae going, and a source of ammonia to keep the bacteria alive, you might be able to keep it indefinitely. All you would need to do is to add a very small amount of fish food (a half of a brine shrimp pellet or so) 1-2 times a week. This will also "feed" any small shrimp or copepods that are attached to the rock when moved. Of course, this will mean that occasional water changes will be necessary.

Another possibility is to see if there are any aquarium clubs in your area (http://fins.actwin.com/dir/clubs.php?c=1 ) - you might be able to advertise your rock through them or have a member who would buy it. Craigslist is also good for local buyers, but for Ebay, you might need to ship the rock if the buyer isn't in your area.

Answer 2

You defiantly need to keep it in water if you are going to sell it as live rock. It will start dying out as soon as it starts to dry out. You also need to keep a heater and a powerhead in the water or it will die out.

Edit: If you add a heater anything that is non-photosynthetic will be fine until you sell it. Without light photosynthetic organisms will die off. You may need to feed it every once in a while to keep the bacteria and maybe some other critters alive. Otherwise just keep an eye on the nitrates and you can probably keep it that way indefinitely

Answer 3

I make and sell live rock.
Keep it in buckets with a strong powerhead and it should be good for weeks if not months.
You will have to do water changes if you keep it that long.
I would try to post it in a classified ad on the net in your area or in your local news paper classified ads.
Post it cheep and it will go fast (Half the price of your local fish store)
Here is a list of Aquarium clubs that may be able to help you out, All Around Michigan.
You may even be able to post a for sale ad on one of them.
http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Local_Fish_Clubs.htm#Michigan

Answer 4

i'd think of you're able to of stored a number of that previous saltwater put in a bucket and placed the stay rock in it, do you have adequate salt combination to make adequate to put in a bucket with stay rock. i'd take it out and placed it in a bucket, the object you study says the freshwater breaks down the stay rock, permit it smash down in a bucket no longer in the tank you basically wiped sparkling. the two way no saltwater or freshwater basically your stay rock wont make it do you nonetheless have any salt creepers on your tank or clear out? scrape it up and placed it in the bucket

Answer 5

Definately keep it in water, and definitely sell it - those bad boys go for A LOT around here :)

I'd think it'd be around 2-4 days before it 'dies'.

Answer 6

I'll have it! I'm just starting a saltwater aqaurium!

Answer 7

where do you live?????