Curing Live Rock

aseidman00 · 11-26-2003, 08:54 AM

Anyone have experience curing their own live rock ?

I've found a good deal of live-rock that I can buy over the internet that looks a lot better and cheaper than I can find in local stores. However, I need to cure this stuff myself. I think I'll cure it in my new tank.

That said, the company that sells it tells you how to cure it:
- get any inverts to leave the rock so that you can sort through them and decide which to keep and which to dump.... sounds yucky.
- Frequent water changes.. etc..

anyone ever cure their own live rock ? Is it such a hassle or no big deal ?

Thanks,
Allen

Phil5613 · 11-26-2003, 02:03 PM

All live rock goes through a curing process you can't avoid it once you expose it to air ( remove it from water) The uncured rock you are looking at is different because it hasn't been in a tank and comes from the ocean directly. If you go this route a couple of things to do is use vegetable brush (new) to remove all dead material from the rock, and make sure the protien skimmer is fired up on the tank. The tank will spike and I don't suggest adding live stock through this part of the process. If it is directly from theocean you will also get a smell for about a week that can be strong. ( during one curing process of a large amount of rock I was told the rcok goes or the wife goes to the mother in laws) There is more but this post would be 3 pages long feel free to write me for more info

Jason McKenzie · 11-26-2003, 03:11 PM

I would agree with Phil5613 100%. The scrub brush is a very important step. Scrub every nook and cranny of the rock.
I would arrange it in the tank with the thought that that is were it will stay forever. Instead of just dumping it in and "curing" it then arranging it.
Curing LR is the same as cycling your tank. That is what is going on the; The die off on the LR breaks down into Ammonia. This will start the rapid population explosion of Ammonia eating organisms. These organisms break down the Ammonia into Nitrite causing the same type of population growth of Nitrite eating organisms. these organisms in turn break down the Nitrite into Nitrate a less harmfully chemical to your reef fish and Corals. Nitrate needs to be removed by Water changes.

During the curing or Cycle stage I would recommend no water changes, Lighting doesn't really matter (on or off) I would add a small piece of shrimp or squid this will also break down. After the LR is added I would wait about 4 days and test for Ammonia and Nitrite. then every 5 days or so after that I would test both again. You will find the Ammonia will spike then drop to 0. The nitrite will then spike and drop to zero. At this time test your Nitrates and perform a water change. I would then wait another week and test for all three if 0 for Ammonia and Nitrate and <10ppm for Nitrate I would say it would be save to add a clean up crew

Thanks for reading this very long post

Jason

omard · 11-26-2003, 05:01 PM

FWIW (For what its worth..)

I found a great "tool" at local feed store for scrubbing rock.

Is a small brush, with "very" stiff bristles on one side, and a small metal "scraper" on other.

Think it is for "cleaning" horse hooves(?) - anyway was perfect tool for cleaning up newly arrived LR.

Only cost about $2.00

OmarD

bigfoot · 12-28-2003, 11:46 PM

would this work dont scrubb the rock and use a refug to soak up the nurients the reason i asked is cuz this is what i plan to do butt i am new what are the pro and cons to this

Jason McKenzie · 12-29-2003, 04:43 AM

The Biggest reason to scrub is to get off Sponges and other bodies that when dead are toxic in the tank. Also most LF will come with some kind of macro algae. This will continue to grow and could take over your fug.
I don't believe there would be any harm in doing what you want to do. It may take longer and the rock may not look pretty for awhile. But it would work

J

Phil5613 · 12-29-2003, 05:59 PM

I have cycled in tank and in its own tub The peoblem with letting a refuge, wetdry or sump system and doing in tank is you have no idea what critters you might get. To me that is the fun trapping critters! You also don't know what kinds of algae you intro to the tank. That is hard sometimes. Plus don't forget the smell fresh from the sea lr rock has,it can stink up the house! As far as scrubbing the rock It cycles faster this way and doesn't smell quite as funky. The down side is you may remove cool stuff too. Something to remember is as Matt said any rock removed from the water will have some die off and need to recycle so even if you buy it at a lfs you will still get a ammonia spike. Pick your poison it doesn't matter how you do it its going to take work the only thing I try not to do is add large pieces of lr to existing tank. Protien skimming is needed and I drip nad dose during cycle to pretty rock up quicker. I light less during first 2 weeks but bump it up after that. I would be hesitant to order lr online if you have not seen good rock so you can tell the difference. price means nothing to me I have seen great looking cheap rock and expensive looking garbage rock. The cultured stuff out of Florida is going down hill quickly in some areas nothing more the concrete slabs. I also look around locally and try to recycle rock from people getting out of the hobby. My 90 has about 120-150 lbs figi that was from someones 125 that they tore down. I got a great deal got to help with the teardown and got some cool freebies. So check around. enuff drolling on bye for now

turbo4603 · 12-31-2003, 06:17 AM

this info is helping me a lot guys thanx,

JOE