Adding lives rock

[Spur2]

I want to add 50lbs of lives rock in the tank. What is the best way to cured lives rock fast and safely.

[Aged Salt]

Hi Steve, just purchase fully-cured LR, Bob

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

Several strategies and tangents are possible ... looking forward to reading the techniques of others!


If the live rock is going into an empty tank ...

This is what I consider to be the "best" scenario ... simply place the live rock in the system as you would if it were already cured. If your lighting configuration allows, use only actinics for 6-8 hours per day. Curing will be accelerated by adding additional circulation (directed powerheads, etc ...). There are typically three downsides: (1) potential odor problem inside the house; (2) the need for frequent cleaning of filtration equipment, especially the protein skimmer's collection cup ... things get clogged and/or overflow from all the accumulated debris; and (3) the hassle of regular siphoning of accumulated detritus, and a complete water change at the end of the curing process.


If the live rock is going to be placed into an established tank ...

A separate container is needed for the curing process. "Shallower and broader" is typically better than "deeper and narrower" because a greater surface area facilitates more efficient gas exchange, and to allow for easier manipulation of the rock pieces during the curing process (if required). RubberMaid watering troughs are a better choice than 55G trash barrels, but either will do. Old, unused tanks capable of holding the rock is another option.

Circulation is very helpful in accelerating the curing process ... the more the better (generally). Strong flow is going to help "peel away" decaying/dead organic matter from the surface of the rock, and increased turbulence on the surface will help to facilitate gas exchange. Saturated dissolved oxygen levels are helpful to heterotrophs and aerobic nitrifiers as they "do their thing."

Periodic 100% water changes will also help to accelerate curing. I prefer to do 100% changes every other day for the first week, then every 3-5 days until the rock is cured.

If you have an unused protein skimmer lying around, this could be a chance for it to be useful again. I typically don't add a bag of activated carbon until the last few days before the estimated completion of the curing cycle.

I typically cure live rock in darkness, or whatever ambient lighting happens to be present ... but if there is some quality coralline algae growth worth trying to preserve, I'll typically run some actinic lighting over the container for 6-8 hours a day. Even so, coralline algae generally persists reasonably well after a 3-4 week "dark" curing cycle.

Curing cycles typically run from 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the density of the rock, amount of organic material on the rock at the beginning of the curing process, and the strength of the circulation in the curing container. I typically use NSW for the curing process, but only because it's more convenient in my circumstances ... mixing your own saltwater will generally be significantly less expensive.

Other tangents include the manual removal of organic material from the surface of the rock prior to being placed in the curing container ... a hypersalinity dip (Sp.G >= 1.035 for ~20 minutes. You'll be amazed at what wriggles and skitters out of the rock) ... and probiotic dosing of heterotrpohic and nitriying bacteria during the first few weeks of the curing process.

If you're getting ~50 lbs., you might consider placing a "special order" with your source, and oftentimes you can negotiate a lower price for "uncured" rock (if the source is an LFS).


JMO ... HTH

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

Hi Steve, just purchase fully-cured LR, Bob

Yeah ... but where's the "fun" in that? ...

I love the smell of phenols and bisulfides in the morning. It smells like ... victory.


JMO

[trythechi]

Hi Steve, just purchase fully-cured LR, Bob

Hi Steve

Thats what I do

Cheers

Simon

[Spur2]

What about cooking the rock or hot water dip? is it necessary? The highest level in my tank now is around 8-10" from the surface. I want to bring it up around 4-5" from the surface.

[Spur2]

I don't think my LFS sell cured lives rock. It look pretty nasty to me.

[Orion76]

I love the smell of phenols and bisulfides in the morning. It smells like ... victory.

Last time my neighbors almost called the cops because they thought I was stashing human corpses in the basement.... you could smell it 3 blocks away

[Orion76]

What about cooking the rock or hot water dip?

Cooking Live Rock is a curing process in which the rocks are kept in high flow, well aerated water in total darkness with frequent water changes. The process is considered complete when the rocks stop shedding detritus and this usually takes 3 to 4 months.

You don't actually immerse the rocks in hot or boiling water.

[Horace]

It also depends on how fresh your LR is. Mine really only took a few weeks to fully cure. I put mine in my main tank just as if it was already cured. You cant put any livestock in there until your nitrates/nitrites come back down to zero. They will be off the charts high when you test them at first. Good luck!

BTW its LIVE rock, not LIVES :P

[Spur2]

I should kiss that thought goodbye. Unless i someone getting out of hobbies i will buy their rock.

[Spur2]

Horace thanks for the correction. I should go back to school and take some english class

[Orion76]

Another option is to get Reef Ceramic rock and be done with it

[Spur2]

How good are they? I saw the reef ceramic rock in Scott website. Have anyone use them?