Curing Live Rock

[megan84]

I have been waiting for my RO/DI unit and my filter for my tank, in the mean time, I've been curing my rock in rubbermaid tubs with a small heater and a powerhead. I have about 20 pounds of rock in about 7 gallons of water in a rubbermaid. My ammonia is going crazy. About two days after I put it in, my ammonia was about 8. 100% water change, two days later ammonia above 8. 100% water change, two days later,same thing. My logical thought is that I have too much rock in not nearly enough water. However, I have another set up with 25 pounds of rock in about 11 gallons of water (again with a small heater and a powerhead) that's cycling beautifully! My ammonia went to about .75 and is down to .25 with nitrates a little high. I did a 20% water change, ammonia is at .25 with nitrates at 2.
Temp is sitting at 76, pH is fine as well.
Live rock is all about surface area right? So maybe my problem rubbermaid just has more pourous rock in it?

 

[cmaxwell39]

There is just more die off in the one batch of rock than there is in the other. It will take longer for that batch to cycle, but it eventually will. Just give it time.

 

[nycbob]

what is the sg of the water?

 

[1journeyman]

Agree with the above post. Sounds like there was more die off on one of the rocks.
The best thing to when curing live rock is to get a new toothbrush and scrub all of the rock good, rinse in SW, then begin to cure; using lot's of circulation and doing water changes as neccessary to keep Ammonia below 1.0ppm.