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#1
12-17-2007, 05:54 PM
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The two week smell was your rock cycling and a bunch of die off.
Because you don't have any lights on the rock you will probably get a lot more die off. Are you just planning to use this as base rock? Why the long duration in the garbage can? The black stuff is probably some macro or other type of algae dying.
__________________
250 gal display tank plumbed directly to my wallet 
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#2
12-17-2007, 07:39 PM
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Thx Black Phantom, i just wasnt sure if i should be worried about the black portions of the rock or not. No this rock is going to be used as display rock. I had the time and wanted the rock to be as "clean" as possible when I setup the new tank. I know its beneficial to have the worms in the rock, but i really dont like the look of them. Ill just increase me clean up crew when im ready.
The reason im gonna keep the rock in the garbage can is i hear you need to do this for at least 3months to properly "cook" the rock. Im gonna do 30% water changes every 3 weeks or so to help clear out the crud. Last edited by Phanman; 12-17-2007 at 07:41 PM.
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#3
12-17-2007, 08:39 PM
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There would be pretty differing opinions on whether or not you have "destroyed" the live rock or not. It sounds like the process is going to way that you have planned and I wouldn't worry about the black portions.
It seems to me that what you want from live rock is to function as a bacterial filter only. If the rocks aren't too large, why don't you just boil them? That would do it.
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400 gal reef. Established April, 2007. 3 Sequence Dart, RM12-4 skimmer, 2 x OM4Ways, Yellow Tang, Maroon Clown (pair), Blonde Naso Tang, Vlamingi Tang, Foxface Rabbit, Unicorn Tang, 2 Pakistani Butterflies and a few coral gobies My Tank: http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=28436
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#4
12-17-2007, 09:08 PM
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Hey untamed,
Yea all i want the rock to do is be a bacterial filter, i dont want sponges on them or any critters living in the rock. some of the LR are quite large, so its a little difficult to submerge the whole rock and boil it. But i have the time right now to "cook" the rock, because im waiting for the new place to be built then im going full steam on my new tank. Hope its half as nice as yours, lol.
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#5
12-17-2007, 10:29 PM
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I wouldn't worry about the black patches at all. You're only going to lose the photosynthetics initially. It's only after several months with regular water changes that any of the filter/detritus feeders will start to go as you begin to starve them out (depending on how badly the rock was loaded up with crap to begin with). What you'll have left in the end is a spic and span bacterial filter requiring no cycling time.
Last edited by fkshiu; 12-18-2007 at 06:21 AM.
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#6
12-18-2007, 04:27 AM
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The black patches sound like dead sponges to me...totally normal.
General comment...you should keep an eye on Ammonia and Nitrite levels when cooking or curing rock, Ammonia over 2 mg/l can kill off many beneficial critters on the rock.
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#7
12-18-2007, 05:26 AM
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phanman. I purchased close to 100 #'s of live rock 10 months ago and it was full of hair algae. I put it in a 50 gal tub (barely fit) with a heater and small flow pump, no light. I have changed the water about 6 times and that rock is full of life(pods,crabs,snails, worms, etc), except hair algae. People sometimes completely cook LR to rid it of all life so when they add the LR to their systems they are not adding any of the unknowns, seeding it with a trusted live piece.
Good Luck Pics please. Kevin
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