Cycling - Is it still Live rock?

So, I was looking to set up my 20 gallon tank and was given two large
pieces of rock. Enough that I immagine my tank won't need more live
rock. However, the pieces were taken out of his tank and sat in a tub
for 2 days. Then, when I got home, I used hot water and a tooth brush to
scrub off some of the bubble algae and hair algae before it went in my tank. In all the rock
sat for 4 days before being put in the saltwater tank. There has
definitely been die off. (Ammonia was up to ~0.75 in 3 days) I added some
nitrafying bacteria to help start the tank.

How do I tell if that rock is completely dead or if there is any live parts left? Do I need to add more live rock? with the good coraline? or will some of
the rock still be alive after being out for 4 days? How do I make sure
the cycle is off to a good start? Do I need to ghost feed even though I have the die off from the other rock?
My last tank cycle, I started with part base rock and part fully cured live rock. So, this is all a bit new yet and any help would be greatly appreciated. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif

 

Your live rock is now mostly dead. And I can't see the rest of the question in this reply to answer the rest....

 

I don't know that I have additional advice on this. Other than most of the live stuff on your rock is dead and your tank is certainly going to cycle. I am sure there are others here that can give cycling advice. I have not been through it personally.

 

I was not worried about a big cycle, the tank is empty. Just trying to figure out if I need some actual "live rock" to get the tank up an running or if you can cycle the tank with mostly dead rock.

This is good to know. I really was not sure how long it could sit.

 

It was out open in air. I did not have it in water. Not sure if that make a big difference or not. But, based on the fact that the ammonia is up, I would imagine it is quite dead.

 

you would have needed to keep it in SW to keep it alive. I think in just air that the live rock will die off within 24 hours or less.

 

yep dead, plus you scrubbed on it with hot water right? That killed it right there in my mind! Next time just put it in a tub with heater and water movement. Next if you need to clean it scrub it off with the saltwater and then put back into bucket with wet newspapers. After you have cleaned it all then put it back into fresh SW into tank or tube with heater and power head. Remember its a live and you did everything to kill it. It will come back but it will take time and its going to cycle.