Live rock

Hello i would like to add live rock to my tank. My question is that do i have to cure the live rock or can i just put it into my tank and just brush off all dead material.
Thanks

 

Hello. The simple answer is yes, cure the rock. Here is a link, there are tons of sites with lots of info: Live Rock - Curing Guidelines - Marine and Saltwater Aquarium Of course you can search 3Reef as well.

If this is a new tank, the answer is no - let it cycle with your tank.

 

bump

 

There are a couple of variables that will determine the correct answer:

If the rock is uncured or you're not certain and your tank has livestock in it, you definitely want to cure it in a separate container first. Brush off any visible dead matter to reduce the curing time.

If you are sure the rock is fully cured or if your tank is still cycling, then you will be fine to put it in.

 

I would say it depends on where said live rock is coming from? If its fresh from another tank & the tank is just starting I would say ok add it. If its coming the mail live rock, going in to a fresh tank, I would consider dipping it in some fresh saltwater & scrub the big chunks of die off away.

If youre adding to the scape of an already established tank and its coming in the mail I would definitely clean & pre-cycle it outside of the tank.

Me personally I cycle all live rock outside of the tank, just to reduce the murphy factor that can come in the rock (hitch hikers, weird bacertia, who knows). To some though, half the wow factor of live rock is those hitch hikers so personal choice.

 

well my plan was to buy the live rock from my lfs. my local fish store keeps there live rock in a large tank with a few fish

 

Coming from a LFS & in a large tank with a few fish, I am assuming this is just a big LFS LR holding tank? Like not a display just one they use for LR?

If its going into a new tank I would say add it -as is. You may see a little bit of chucks & deterius and so forth come off, but thats more or less just going to help you along as your tank cycles.

 

the tank is 7months old and i want to make my aquascape taller . also i have no helpful hitch hickers which i would like to have

 

If it's already cured and chilling at the LFS, then I say just add it to your tank. There shouldn't be a lot of die off on the way home, so should be safe to just put it in.

 

+1 Kacey. Cycled tank, cured rock with a short trip is not a problem ... straight into the system.

Though I will say, be careful what you wish for - I always hated that saying when it was used on me, but when it comes to wanting hitchhikers man oh man does it really apply !

If you want to me ubber conservative take a tupperware container filled with water from a water change on your system and transport the rock in it. But honestly, wet news paper over the rock should be sufficient.

Good luck.