Can I take LR out of tank?

My CUC is arriving tomorrow so I'd like to rearrange my rock before all those little critters get in there and potentially get squished. A lot of my rock has pineapple sponges and tube-type feather dusters on it...can they survive out of the water for awhile while rearranging?

There's also several bristle worms and amphipods throughout the rocks.

I've read that the sponges could be a problem being out of the water, and I personally think that the feather dusters have to be very sensitive, and need to stay submerged but am not sure.

It's going to be tough to do if I have to leave the rock in. It's about 85lbs in my 90g tank.

 

They will be fine.

 

I'm worried that if i have stuff sitting out it'll die off and crash the tank with a mini cycle, all within 24 hours of putting the CUC and my first two frags (zoos) in the tank.

 

As long as it doesn't dry out it will be fine.Some reefs are exposed to the air for hours at low tide.

 

Good point...still nervous though.

 

That's good actually.Being cautious is wise.8)

 

Oh I'm cautious (i.e. afraid to take the next step), that's why its taken me 3 months + to order CUC and get things going!!

 

I agree with Vinny 100%, but just to help ease your mind, you're adding your own backup solution-- the CuC would feed on any die-off and the zoas will absorb whatever DOCs are created from it.

Again though, I agree it's not going to happen.

 

It'll be fine.

 

When I rescape I put all my live rock in a plastic tub and fill it with water from the tank so its wet. Like vinny and bill said though, you'll be fine.