I recently bought about 60 lbs from a friend for $2 a pound, but it has been sitting in an almost empty tank for 2 weeks mostly covered with unheated SW, Is there a way to get it going again?
Once the stuff begins to die off, you have to expect a certain odor which usually multiplies the longer it is out of water.
I would obtain a rubbermaid container (or two), add the rock and some freshly mixed salt water, throw a powerhead in there, and let it be for a few weeks. The smell can get bad, so it may be better to do this outside. If you live in an area that gets chilly, you can add a heater.
If it's not to bad, you can add the rock to a tank, and cycle it that way. I have found out how bad LR can stink up the inside of a house and I don't want to go through that twice (hence the advice to do this outside.)
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Yes, it can be done, but there are a few things to check.
First, and very important, did the owner ever medicate the tank with copper or similar medication? If they did, during the treatment the LR absorbed a lot of copper. The live rock will leach copper for years afterward. If this is the case, it's best to discard the LR or use it for a FO system.
If the LR is over grown with a lot of problem algae, the rock may have absorbed a lot of phosphate or nitrate. This can be delt with, but it can take a long time.
The procedure is the same as when the rock was originally cured. Place it in a large container with a lot of circulation, and the water heated to normal temps. They wait until ammonia and nitrite have dropped to 0. This can take several weeks or more.
I have the LR in my tank, my tank has a slight odor, but i have not ever put anything in my tank except "reef evolution" and normal stuff, salt and such. So I should remove all my rock and put in another container and circulate?
If you have only the LR in the tank, you can cure it in the tank. If you have other livestock, especially fish, the live rock should be cured in another container.
can i clean off the LR from time to time with freshwater?
I wouldnt recommend it. Using freshwater would most likely kill off more of the "inhabitants" i.e. sponges,etc.. and would prolong the curing process. The whole idea is to allow all the dead or dying stuff to complete it's cycle(either by decay or by removal) so that your left with healthy, viable organics that wont leach nutrients, organic material, etc... into your new system.
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