need help. have pics.

[jacblades]

my friend calls me today to tell me he is getting rid of some live rock and crushed coral substrate and asks if i want it (i have been talking about doing a 20gal sw tank for a while)
of course i say i want it.
and of course i dont have anything i need at the moment (i wasnt planning on starting this for another month or two)...especially the tank.
so right now i have the stuff in a sterilite tub. i dont have a powerhead or pump (in the mail as we speak though) so i have 4 airlines buried in the substrate.
i dont have any lights right now either.

there are a few mushrooms and other tiny corals i cant identify...are they going to die without lighting? how long will they live until i can get some lights?
also my sg keeps fluctuating. from about .021-.024. it changes everytime i check it i know ideally you are supposed to have the water mixed and aerating for 24 hours before adding anyhting but i didnt have much of a choice...

i will feel just awful if i kill all of this free live rock and coral...

please help me.

edit: i am only using tap water, not r/o. but the ph is about 8.0 right out of the tap.

im going to kill this stuff, arent i?
please excuse the betta growout tub in the first pic )

 

[Great Lakes]

You should be ok. A little swing in S.G. won't have much affect on LR.

Lighting would be my largest concern.

Congratulations!

GL

 

[Navarre]

From the look of the pictures you have a good flow of water moving in the container and this is a good thing. Make sure your SG hydrometere is free of airbubble etc when you read. if you have not changed the water etc then there should be no explanation for a fluctuation. However as its purely liverock it will not be detrimental even though the small polyps and corals on it might not thank you.

As greatlakes has said, the lightind will be the main concern. They can survive for a while with no lights but not for prolonged periods.. perhaps a week or so.

Can you get a light near it.. a bulb even,.. anything even if its not suited for marines.. its not ideal but it will be better than nothing and will help prolong the life just a bit longer whilst you get set up.

Good luck with it! Im sure it will look great once the tank is setup!