Curing Rock

Werbo · #1 02-05-2004, 07:16 PM

Bought some uncured rock from J&L. Interested in knowing minut details that I may not know about for curing rock.
I scubbed the rock by hand removing any obvious die off. So far I have the 40 lbs of live rock in a 20 gallon aquarium with salt water made from de-chlorinated tap water (not RO/DI). I have 2 Hagan 802s circulating the water that is at 78 degrees. I again lightly scrubbed the rock to remove any obvious die off and after one week I changed 100% of the the water. I am now at the end of my second week and not sure about nitrites, nitrates, & ammonia levels but imagine they are still very high and will check this weekend.

I was planning on doing a large water change using RO/DI water for the last week once the initial large scale die off occurred and the nitrates and ammonia begin to level off.

Very little light in the room as it is in a downstairs bathroom (no lid or light on the aquarium)

Anything else I should be doing?? Am I doing anything drasticlly wrong.

Beverly · #2 02-05-2004, 10:18 PM

I would add light and a glass top to the tank, and do daily top ups with RO. Other than that, sounds okay to me.

Just a side comment, I have two Hagen 802s in my 72g bowfront. They churn up the water quite well in a tank that size. Am wondering if you have these 802s on full throttle or have them turned down. If full throttle, it must be quite a washing machine in there

BCOrchidGuy · #3 02-05-2004, 10:37 PM

I don't normally scrub off my rock, I know alot of people say you should but to be honest, I think the stuff that's dying off has some use. Sponge especially will really encourage a strong population of pods to grow quickly. Just my 2 cents worth.

Doug

Quinn · #4 02-05-2004, 10:42 PM

Agreed. When I got my rock I did nothing with it, just threw it in the tank. Of course you can't do that with an established tank, but I still don't see any reason to scrub. You're not trying to kill things. Curing is just cycling in another tank. I'm no biological chemist but I don't see any reason to follow the complex regimen, with all the lighting requirements and water changes.

Werbo · #5 02-05-2004, 11:01 PM

Thanks for the input. Scrub defined is with a toothbrush to remove any obvious dead material.

Any other comments.

Quinn · #6 02-05-2004, 11:10 PM

Remove - why. The microorganisms in the water and on the rock will consume the detritus. By scrubbing it off you are just delaying the cycling process.

EmilyB · #7 02-05-2004, 11:51 PM

Dead sponges etc will take forever to decay and delay the curing process. They should definitely be scrubbed off imo.

StirCrazy · #8 02-06-2004, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teevee

Remove - why. The microorganisms in the water and on the rock will consume the detritus. By scrubbing it off you are just delaying the cycling process.

there will be plenty of stuff left over to cycle the tank, the purpose of scrubbing is to limit the spike to raise the chance of live stuff living through the process.. also gives you the opertunity to remove algaes you don't want inyour tank.

Steve

Quinn · #9 02-06-2004, 01:44 AM

Hmmm, so you're saying one should siphon out detritus or do a water change right after scrubbing?

StirCrazy · #10 02-06-2004, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teevee

Hmmm, so you're saying one should siphon out detritus or do a water change right after scrubbing?

I am saying you should scrub in a seperat tank/pail befor you put the rock into your tank.

Steve