Re: Cycle Question
If this was my new LR that needed to be cured and cycled, I would either do it in a separate tank (or rubbermaid container) or in the main tank without sand. Uncured LR will have all kinds of dead and dying stuff on it that will flake off over the course of curing. This stuff will only add unnecessary crud to the tank, and will be the source of nitrate and phosphate over the long term - something you don't want.
Once the rock has cured, if in the main tank, I would turkey baste it to remove as much dead stuff as possible, then siphon out the crud after it has settled. I would then remove the rock to buckets or some other container(s) with tankwater, powerhead(s) heater(s), then add the sand, and add the rock once the water clears (usually a day or two).
If the rock has been cured in a separate tank, I would swish the rock in the water to remove as much dead stuff as possible before transferring it to the main tank with new salt water in it.
Also, I would light the tank so whatever live stuff still on the rock, such as coralline algae, will continue to live during the curing process.
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