Liverock alive ?

[Limpc]

Hi,

How can one tell if a liverock is still alive ?

Limpc

[Achilles Tang]

An experienced wine connoisseur using the sniff test can suss out the bouquet of the wine and guess the vintage of the wine and even the location of the crop.

Oops! Are we talking about liverock?

Oh! You can still do the sniff test.

A good liverock should smell like the sea, tangy with a touch of zesty freshness. Slightly bitey, with a full body, well balanced and a good finish.

Just like good wine!

In other words... if it smells bad... it's liverock with lots of dying organisms on it! Sponges, worms, crabs, shellfish, algae and bacteria will perish if the rock doesn't get water circulating around it or if the water gets too hot or its worse still, out of water for a long time....ie. 1 hour!

Treat liverock like you would any livestock. Good TLC!

[Limpc]

Hi AT,

Thanks for reply.

B4 I go sniffing all the rocks and got "high", can I tell from the look of it?

Rgds,

Limpc

[Achilles Tang]

I doubt so... you can see any rotting sponges but you can't tell if the bacteria inside the rock has gone bad.... you can only smell it!

[hongqixian]

Treat it like you would any prized coral to keep it well. I use CYCLE in my tanks during cycling time so as not to ruin the rock excessively.

[LiveRock]

yes, I'm alive and kicking

[kelstorm]

yes, I'm alive and kicking

hahaha.. Liverock.. u are a riot!!!

oh yes, if the live rock had died, i dun recommend smelling it.. when my first marine tank "collapse", and i removed the LR, the 'perfume' was so great that i vomited my dinner on the spot!!!.. no kidding..

[hongqixian]

I say that rotten anemones are worse!