So I've found a great deal locally for 30lbs of live rock that have been in a tank for about a year. My new tank won't be up for another few months but I didn't want to pass up this deal. My plan is to throw the rock in a rubbermaid. Add a heater, pump and keep it lite with a simple 18w CFL (i've read this light would do fine for keep live rock/corraline) . I'll do a water change every week. What else do I need to add or do to keep the rock nice and healthy?



Also, the rock has numerous crabs crawling all over and I'm sure there are other critters. I don't want the crabs in my new tank. What should I do to the rock prior to putting it into the rubbermaid? I could leave the rock alone for two months and then deal with problem critters when I move it to my tank or I could deal with them now. What's the best plan of attack? Dip? Spray?

Thanks.

trap them. tupperware on the bottom with a ramp going up, place food in tupper, crabs go in but they can't get out. Then just visually inspect the rock prior to adding. It isn't the surest way, but the least invasive to the rock

Good idea! I'll be doing this.

My main goal will be to promote coralline growth.

Just drop a mantis shrimp in there... BOOM! No more crabs

or get some egg crate, a long piece of pvc. cut the pvc and make it into a bunch of legs. put egg crate on pve and rocks on crate. then place some food in the bottom over the night that way the crabs can come out to the bottom of the rubber maid. boom you have most of the crabs on the slick bottom trying to eat. simply tank out the rock put in other rubber maid and take crabs from 1st maid and sale to lfs or trade it wont take out all the crabs but most or some should come out.

I got the rock sitting in the rubbermaid nicely. Pump keeping stuff moving and a heater keeping thinks warm.

I got 90% of the crabs and snails in bags ready to go to the LFS store.

You could try a high salinity dip. The crabs will flee the rock and you can just scoop them up.