Breaking down tank - what to do with live rock

I have had my 90 up and running for 3 years now. I think I am going to break it down this winter so I can gut and re-do the room where it sits now. The tank and stand are old so I am not going to ever re-use those. I am wondering what to do with the 80ish pounds of live rock I have in the tank. Just recently I noticed some aptasia growing so I don't want to give that potential headache to somebody else. I likely will build another tank in the future (still have a 65), what would you do with the live rock in the tank now?
Thanks for any help or suggestions

 

I'd probably use some in the 65 and then dry the rest out and keep it for a future tank.

 

Is there a process to drying it out properly, or just literally take it out of the tank and let it dry out and die?

 

I would probably bleach it as well but sun drying will be fine.You could then just store it in buckets or bins until you are ready to use it again.

 

I just purchased a IM 20 gallon fusion to house a few fish from the 90 that I could not get rid of. My question is would you transfer some of the live rock from the 90 to the new 20 or would you start fresh in the 20? Overall the 90 is in good shape with the exception of some (maybe 4-5 that I can see) aptasia on a few rocks. Does aptasia in a tank mean its in the water column and possible all over the live rock even though I cant see it? I don't want to start the 20 with a aptasia problem but it would be nice to have some established rock as well.

 

Transferring rock will help cycle faster but dry rock helps keep pests out of the new system.

 

This is my dilemma. I guess I would like to know the odds of aptasia being on the live rock I transfer over if there is none that can be seen on that rock??

 

If you see one, there are probably 3 to 5 more you don't see. Knowing I have it, I would dry out the rock, and then sees it with live rock that I know to be pest free

 

I'll take the rock. LOL.