Curing a lot of Rock - Few Questions

dedecv3

dedecv3

Member
I picked up about 400 lbs of LR from a guy who broke down a large set up. I used 100 lbs or so for my self& the rest has been dried for about 3 weeks. I've been trying to sell it on CL dry but everyone who has contacted me wants it cured. I have a 300 gallon rubbermaid I can cure it in but I have a few questions as to what all is REQUIRED during the curing process...
Does the water HAVE to be heated??
What salinity level (if any) is necessary??
Do calcium & alkalinity levels have any effect on the curing process??
How much flow??
Light??
I am trying to do this as cheap as possible so I am basically trying to find out what is necessary.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Does the water HAVE to be heated?? Yes
What salinity level (if any) is necessary?? Normal salinity could be 1.023 - 1.026
Do calcium & alkalinity levels have any effect on the curing process?? Not really just whatever the salt mix gets them to
How much flow?? Enough to keep the detritus being moved off the rock
Light?? Not necessary
Just monitor ammonia and nitrites and when ammonia and nitrites goes down to zero do a water change and sell it. I would keep a log of the the start date, test readings, temp throughout the process to show a potential buyer how it was cured so they can see you really did cure it. Extra selling point IMO
 
dedecv3

dedecv3

Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3154508
Does the water HAVE to be heated?? Yes
What salinity level (if any) is necessary?? Normal salinity could be 1.023 - 1.026
Do calcium & alkalinity levels have any effect on the curing process?? Not really just whatever the salt mix gets them to
How much flow?? Enough to keep the detritus being moved off the rock
Light?? Not necessary
Just monitor ammonia and nitrites and when ammonia and nitrites goes down to zero do a water change and sell it. I would keep a log of the the start date, test readings, temp throughout the process to show a potential buyer how it was cured so they can see you really did cure it. Extra selling point IMO

What is the benefit of the salt when curing live rock?? From what I can tell the nitrification process is the same as it is in my Koi ponds and that contains no salt. I guess i'm just not understanding the difference between the two processes.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
Originally Posted by dedecv3
http:///forum/post/3154513
What is the benefit of the salt when curing live rock?? From what I can tell the nitrification process is the same as it is in my Koi ponds and that contains no salt. I guess i'm just not understanding the difference between the two processes.

it's a different bacteria species
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
If you are not trying to keep anything alive on the rock, coral etc., then I would suggest when/if ammonia reaches 1.0 do a water change.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
1.Place the live rock in a plastic garbage can. Consider adding bottom drains to the container to speed draining and water changes.
2.Completely cover the rock with freshly mixed saltwater, with a specific gravity of 1.021 - 1.025.
3.Use a heater and keep the water temperature near 80 degrees to speed die off.
4.Provide constant water movement with a power head or air stone.
5.Keep the area dimly lit to prevent algae blooms.
6.Perform 100% water changes twice weekly.
7.Gently scrub the rock with a new nylon bristle brush or toothbrush between water changes to remove any white film or dead material.
When the water conditions stabilize and ammonia and nitrite tests are zero, the rock is ready to be placed into the display aquarium.
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Ok this might be a dumb question but why and when do you cure LR?
When I get LR I just pop it right in my tank. I dont want to kill off all the nice stuff growing on it (Should I?).
Just like the LR I got last night with all my frags I picked up a beautiful chunk of LR with all sorts of pink and maroon and purple colors on it and it had lots of cool little live stuff on it (zoas and little tiny green starfish and some kind of tiny bristly looking starfish legs popping out of all the holes in it). Why would I want to kill that off?
Forgive me if I sound dumb, I am still learning.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
Originally Posted by Lorene
http:///forum/post/3154731
Ok this might be a dumb question but why and when do you cure LR?
When I get LR I just pop it right in my tank. I dont want to kill off all the nice stuff growing on it (Should I?).
Just like the LR I got last night with all my frags I picked up a beautiful chunk of LR with all sorts of pink and maroon and purple colors on it and it had lots of cool little live stuff on it (zoas and little tiny green starfish and some kind of tiny bristly looking starfish legs popping out of all the holes in it). Why would I want to kill that off?
Forgive me if I sound dumb, I am still learning.

If the LR isn't cured, then you can get an ammonia spike when you place it in your aquarium.
 
D

dragonzim

Active Member
Originally Posted by Lorene
http:///forum/post/3154731
Ok this might be a dumb question but why and when do you cure LR?
When I get LR I just pop it right in my tank. I dont want to kill off all the nice stuff growing on it (Should I?).
Just like the LR I got last night with all my frags I picked up a beautiful chunk of LR with all sorts of pink and maroon and purple colors on it and it had lots of cool little live stuff on it (zoas and little tiny green starfish and some kind of tiny bristly looking starfish legs popping out of all the holes in it). Why would I want to kill that off?
Forgive me if I sound dumb, I am still learning.

If you're buying your rock from a local store that had it in their display system it should already be cured. Just make sure you transport it wet, or at least wrapped in damp newspaper and you should have no problems. Curing comes in when the rock has dried a bit and there is die off.
 
truperc

truperc

Member
Originally Posted by Lorene
http:///forum/post/3154731
why and when do you cure LR?
I think your real question is when do I cure the LR outside my display tank.
The rock will cure whether it is put in your display tank or is put in a separate container.
The risks of adding a large piece of uncured rock to the display would be die off on the rock causes an ammonia spike, and ultimately harms the inhabitants that were doing well prior to you adding the new rock.
Some rock will already come cured, so there are low risks to adding it directly to the display.
Sometimes, the amount of rock you are adding is so small e.g. a frag is sitting on it, that the display tank will be able to handle the curing process without harming the existing inhabitants.
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Well OMG that would more than likely explain the ammonia in my tank! I am feeling SOOO horrible about this! I thought if I would just put the rock in right from the lfs it would HELP my tank not hurt it!
BTW, how do I tell if its cured or not?
I think I may have lost the Candy Cane too. I noticed today its kind of shriveled and not bouncy like. I feel really bad! Is there anything I can do to save it? If its dead do I take it out? Or can I leave it in as a reminder to "listen and learn before I do". Will that cause an ammonia spike as well?
I am not adding anything else for a while until I know for sure everything in my tank is stable and good!
Is there anything I can do to help my tank right now? Should I take out all that rock I put in and cure it? I dont know anything about curing it so could use some advice! So I should never put any LR directly to my display tank?
There is so much to learn! This is ALOT harder than freshwater!
 
truperc

truperc

Member
I am not sure how long your rock has been in your main tank.
Curing can take a few weeks.
Yes this would likely be the cause of the ammonia.
If you have the rock separated, you would test the water for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.
Once nitrates are fairly low, your rocks are cured. 20 ppm or less (0 is the ideal, but sometimes hard to obtain)
You would want to change the water during the curing process. Every few days at least IMO
A bad smell to the rocks is indicative of die off, and can mean your rocks are not cured (nothing replaces testing)
Taking the rocks out now, depends on how long they have been in the tank.
Water changes will help your inhabitants.
I would do a 50% water change daily, if you have ammonia in the tank.
Your water is supposed to sit for a while after mixing, before you add it to the display.
Most say 24 hours with a power head agitating the water.
I would not say remove the Candy Cane yet, but if you had a quarantine tank, I would say you could move it to that.
welcome to salt water...where every day is an adventure
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Ok, I went to another lfs (the more expensive one, but tanks are cleaner looking and healthier fish)
I got most of my LR from these guys and they said yes the LR I bought was cured. The other place I got my LR came right from their display tanks.
I have been putting pieces in over the last 3 weeks or so.
I had this store do a water test for me and here are my results:
Ammonia: .10
Nitrite: .10
Nitrate: 40
Calcium: 340
Phosphate: .25
PH: 8.0
He said he thinks with the Peppermint Shrimp dying and this afternoon I discovered one of my large Astrea Snails (Stoney) had died-(lfs guy said it probably was one of the hermit crabs or the emerald crab that done him in since he was all in pieces when I picked him up out of the tank) He said that probably contributed to the ammonia/nitrite spike as well or it could be that I've been overfeeding. He gave me another bottle of BioSpira and said that would help it cycle out quickly.
He said to wait about a week and test again unless we see any more death then test sooner. He said if my Phosphates are still up he may recommend some Phosphate remover as well and said that would help with my Cyanobacteria (which seems to be growing more lately).
I am not sure of all this chemical additives (Except the BioSpira which I swear by and am sticking by!)
I would like to add something to get rid of the Cyanobacteria (if recommended) and the the Phospates and Nitrates as well but would like to do it the natural way first.
I told him this and he said that Blue Leg Hermits and Conchs will eat it-I have a couple Blue Legs but they dont seem to be able to keep up with it very well. He also said that these were pretty hardy and if I added the BioSpira I should be able to safely add about a dozen more Blue Legs and a couple Conchs next week. Is this ok?
I do NOT want to add any more live stock unless advised!!!
BTW, it looks as if the Candy Cane is fine- Looking all spongy and wobbly and nice again. Maybe just didnt like me adjusting the flow and got a bit upset?
He also sold me some better foods to feed my tank, its called "Rod's Food" and he said it has vitamins, minerals, food for everything from fish and corals to invertabrates and also garlic for health.
Does anyone else use this?
 
truperc

truperc

Member
Rod's food is very good food. He makes several types, I would use the original. (This is probably what they sold to you)
I would start with one conch only for a 30 gallon. You can always add a second one later
One or two blue legs will not do much for you.
You can safely add another dozen.
Your calcium is low, and your other paramaters are high. (except PH which is ok)
I would suggest you do at least a 20% water change to help correct this.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3155206
If the LR isn't cured, then you can get an ammonia spike when you place it in your aquarium.
If it's dead dry rock you will not get an ammonia spike. There's nothing on it to produce ammonia.
 
lorene

lorene

Member
Originally Posted by TruPerc
http:///forum/post/3155821
Rod's food is very good food. He makes several types, I would use the original. (This is probably what they sold to you)
I would start with one conch only for a 30 gallon. You can always add a second one later
One or two blue legs will not do much for you.
You can safely add another dozen.
Your calcium is low, and your other paramaters are high. (except PH which is ok)
I would suggest you do at least a 20% water change to help correct this.
Ok now I am confused. Should I add the conch and the blue legs now after my w/c? How will a w/c help my calcium?
Sadly Jacques our cleaner shrimp passed away sometime in the night. I dont know what killed him. He was fully intact. I suspect it was Fats or the water parameters but cannot be sure. I added the BioSpira and more calcium stuff last night to bring it up, could that have done it?
Again, I do NOT want to add any more live creatures/corals only to lose them if my water isnt right! Is it safe to add the Conch and the blue legs now???
I am going to my lfs to buy premixed salt water and do a w/c with that today.
 
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