Curing live rock?

[Salvireefer]

What is the proper way to cure live rock?
Just upgrade to a new tank and bought 50lbs of live rock and what's is the proper way to cure it?

 

[SandStorm]

Try to clean it good first.. Vinegar wash it if it's already clean then ro/di after. Don't forget to scrub the rock to.

 

[Daltonbilecki]

^ I believe thats for dry rock

 

[Leandre]

first of all you need to know what condition your rock is currently in. you say live rock, was it shipped to you or did you buy from lfs or another reefer. it matters cus im not totally sure how long life will sustain on the rock being out of water. if it has been dried for a while then chances are its no longer live. but is it has been at least damp from leaving the tank/ocean then to you, then its quite easy. heated saltwater at 83f, a powerhead in a container with a lid, could be a large brute trash can. anything dying or dead on the rock will turn to ammonia to feed remaining bacteria or make new ones. change 50% water weekly and its gonna smell, so use carbon if you must. the whole point of curing for live rock is to remove any dying or dead matter from the rock. and since its technically live, doesnt need to be cycles since the bacteria is already on it.

 

[Six2seven]

any live rock starts to die the second you remove it from water. those live rock boxes that fish stores buy come from overseas and sit at wholesalers for weeks only in a damp bag. it then moves to LFS and they throw it in tanks. There is much die off that gets cycled in their tanks and the longer it sits in a LFS, the more life it has. if you are starting a new tank the cycle of the die off is about the same as the tanks cycle.

 

[Salvireefer]

first of all you need to know what condition your rock is currently in. you say live rock, was it shipped to you or did you buy from lfs or another reefer. it matters cus im not totally sure how long life will sustain on the rock being out of water. if it has been dried for a while then chances are its no longer live. but is it has been at least damp from leaving the tank/ocean then to you, then its quite easy. heated saltwater at 83f, a powerhead in a container with a lid, could be a large brute trash can. anything dying or dead on the rock will turn to ammonia to feed remaining bacteria or make new ones. change 50% water weekly and its gonna smell, so use carbon if you must. the whole point of curing for live rock is to remove any dying or dead matter from the rock. and since its technically live, doesnt need to be cycles since the bacteria is already on it.

I bought it from lfs came in a box and it was damp. So I'll do what you said! Thanks bro

 

[SantaMonica]

Interestingly, some LR sources (in FL, maybe) offer an option of LR shipped in water like livestock is shipped. Heavy, but keeps the most amount of life (esp sponges) alive.

 

[russ13]

Interestingly, some LR sources (in FL, maybe) offer an option of LR shipped in water like livestock is shipped. Heavy, but keeps the most amount of life (esp sponges) alive.

Do they still sell that stuff???
I remember seeing it a long time ago. I wouldn't recommend using it, you have no idea what you're putting in your tank. Mantis shrimp, crazy algae, types of parasites. I have even heard of a baby octopus making its way into a tank


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[russ13]

I'm a firm believer in starting out with dead dry rock, clean it, and cure it. This along with proper quarantine will keep your tank safe from pest and unwanted hitch hikers.


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[SantaMonica]

I hope they still do offer it. If you start from scratch with it before adding anything expensive, you could probably get rid of the bad guys, and keep all the good stuff forever.

 

[Micheal Escalera Sr]

first of all you need to know what condition your rock is currently in. you say live rock, was it shipped to you or did you buy from lfs or another reefer. it matters cus im not totally sure how long life will sustain on the rock being out of water. if it has been dried for a while then chances are its no longer live. but is it has been at least damp from leaving the tank/ocean then to you, then its quite easy. heated saltwater at 83f, a powerhead in a container with a lid, could be a large brute trash can. anything dying or dead on the rock will turn to ammonia to feed remaining bacteria or make new ones. change 50% water weekly and its gonna smell, so use carbon if you must. the whole point of curing for live rock is to remove any dying or dead matter from the rock. and since its technically live, doesnt need to be cycles since the bacteria is already on it.

Do you have to use a heater to cure?


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[innerspark]

No you don't oven need a light

 

[reefes pieces]

It is recommended that you do. Heat determines the speed of growth and maturation of bacteria. The lack of heat will slow things down considerably.

Do you have to use a heater to cure?


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[Leandre]

Do you have to use a heater to cure?

to cure, no. too seed or cycle then yes. also depends on what you are doing, curing (to kill off all living matter on the rocks and start fresh) seeding/cycling to colonize fresh aerobic bacteria to dead (cured) rock or a mixture of both, where the dying matter in the rock acts as the ammonia to colonize.

also, what sort of state is your rock in? some buy used live rock and want to kill everything then start over. some buy new dry rock and cure it for peace of mind. hope this helps

 

[lowbudget]

Bryan why did he buy live rock if he is going to do that.

Try to clean it good first.. Vinegar wash it if it's already clean then ro/di after. Don't forget to scrub the rock to.

 

[lowbudget]

yes what he said

any live rock starts to die the second you remove it from water. those live rock boxes that fish stores buy come from overseas and sit at wholesalers for weeks only in a damp bag. it then moves to LFS and they throw it in tanks. There is much die off that gets cycled in their tanks and the longer it sits in a LFS, the more life it has. if you are starting a new tank the cycle of the die off is about the same as the tanks cycle.

agree cause you don't know where the rock has been how much impurities the rock obsored, used in copper?

I'm a firm believer in starting out with dead dry rock, clean it, and cure it. This along with proper quarantine will keep your tank safe from pest and unwanted hitch hikers.


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prefer to use heater to speed the process

Do you have to use a heater to cure?


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meh

No you don't oven need a light

yep....

It is recommended that you do. Heat determines the speed of growth and maturation of bacteria. The lack of heat will slow things down considerably.

what i do is if you already bought the box of rock throw it in a bin with a pump and heater with no light s do weekly water change for it using new mixed salt water for a month or 2. then you will have all die off and stuff gone

 

[innerspark]

yes what he said



agree cause you don't know where the rock has been how much impurities the rock obsored, used in copper?

prefer to use heater to speed the process

meh

yep....


what i do is if you already bought the box of rock throw it in a bin with a pump and heater with no light s do weekly water change for it using new mixed salt water for a month or 2. then you will have all die off and stuff gone

We live in socal what the hell do you need a heater for unless its raining out. I can't even run one in my Mixing station otherwise it gets to hot.

 

[lowbudget]

winter is here my **** freeze in the morning

We live in socal what the hell do you need a heater for unless its raining out. I can't even run one in my Mixing station otherwise it gets to hot.

 

[innerspark]

Just keep the temp up to nsw temps and you will be fine. Make sure you have a pump to circulate the water on and yes do water changes on it. Another option is to drop a skimmer in there but that's over kill unless you have a spare one laying around.

 

[Micheal Escalera Sr]

We live in socal what the hell do you need a heater for unless its raining out. I can't even run one in my Mixing station otherwise it gets to hot.

I live in the High Desert. It will be 32 tonight


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