Curing LR and ammonia is at 8.0

[alyssia]

I am curing my first batch of LR and my ammonia is at 8.0 (the highest my test will go), 100% water changes don't do any good, the ammonia is the same afterwards. That is covered in another thread though. My question is, since the ammonia is so high, I'm assuming nothing survived, so is my rock still considered live?
Sorry if that is a dumb question, I've always bought cured LR in the past.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by alyssia
I am curing my first batch of LR and my ammonia is at 8.0 (the highest my test will go), 100% water changes don't do any good, the ammonia is the same afterwards. That is covered in another thread though. My question is, since the ammonia is so high, I'm assuming nothing survived, so is my rock still considered live?
Sorry if that is a dumb question, I've always bought cured LR in the past.
Did you scrub all the dead stuff off first? that will make a HUGE difference in curing. Also if you did a 100% change, could your test kit be ok?

 

[alyssia]

My test kit is fine, and no I wasn't scrubbing the rock and I didn't have enough circulation, which was covered in another thread. What I need to know is my rock still considered live? Because I'm pretty sure nothing survived the 8.0 ammonia spike.

 

[sinner's girl]

does it smell?
how does it look? is anything growing on it?
I have the same question about my lr, since it's been without lights for about a year (but in a tank)....I never got an answer...

 

[alyssia]

It still smells because it's not done curing yet.

 

[brainrush]

I'm sure it is still alive. The good bacteria can survive deep in the rock as that is how they make it through shipping. After all it is the bacteria that is causing the cycle to progress (if you also have measurable Trates and Trites).
It only takes a few to survive to quickly re-populate the rock. Coraline is pretty tough too!
I wouldn't worry about it. Just finish the cycle. Some of the "critters" may be dead, but on the bright side some of them are bad to begin with

 

[alyssia]

ok thanks

 

[vanquish]

Originally Posted by BrainRush
I wouldn't worry about it. Just finish the cycle. Some of the "critters" may be dead, but on the bright side some of them are bad to begin with

I agree.

 

[sepulatian]

alyssia, I was planning on buying some (uncured) LR this comming Tuesday, Let me know how this is going for you and what you have done. I was just going to put it in a rubbermaid tub with a hang on filter in it. I was told to do water changes at 1-2, Please let me know how you are doing it so I know what to expect.!! Thanks.

 

[alyssia]

I just did another complete water change and scrubbed the rocks and it is NASTY-my whole downstairs stinks. I wonder how long this process will take. If I need anymore LR in the future I think I'm going to go with cured.

 

[sepulatian]

our friend says several weeks. EEK!!! Is it that bad? smelled up your whole downstairs? have you been doing water changes since you put it in? I am not criticizing, but am curiouse, because I am going to be going through the same thing next week.

 

[alyssia]

I have done 3 water changes in the past week and I just retested and the ammonia is still at 2.00 The smell is overwhelming, I can't even wash the smell off my hands. I guess I should of been wearing gloves when I scrubbed the rock. :scared:

 

[sepulatian]

that bad huh? now I am worried! how long ago did you get it? Is it that "rotten eggs" smell I have been hearing about?

 

[alyssia]

I got it last thursday.
Some people say the smell isn't that bad for them though.

 

[sepulatian]

ok, so a week today and 3 changes. 2 of them were 100% if i read corectly? Yeah I have heard different oppinions on the smell. I was actually just asking lion about this the other day. Because I couldn't grasp why the rock is uncured at lfs when it is in water. He said it is partialy cured depending on how long lfs has it. This makes me think that the people who don't have the smell so bad got it after it was in the dealers tank for a week or more....make sense? Your's might have just arrived when they shipped it out to you. IDK, The stuff I am looking to get is in the water, but they get their stuff in a few times a week I think. I might just ask them to dig to the bottom for some!lol I am interested to see what your experience with it is, so I can be prepared and have time to buy some nose plugs!lol

 

[moby]

Hey alyssia, Please read!!!!
I don't want to worry you, it seems like you have your hands full aready. But be careful and keep that room ventilated (sp?)
The smell you are getting is hydrogen sulfide gas and is very bad for you in concentrated amounts.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is normally heavier than air, but when agitated in levels of toxicity it can paralyze the lungs.
OSHA warns that levels of 300 ppm cause the olfactory nerve to lose sensitivity. At first a "rotten egg" odor is detected but on the second or third breath, the odor is no longer noticed. At 600 ppm, breathing is inhibited, as the lungs fill with the gas.
If you doubt any of this google it.
Please be careful.
Moby

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by moby
Hey alyssia, Please read!!!!
I don't want to worry you, it seems like you have your hands full aready. But be careful and keep that room ventilated (sp?)
The smell you are getting is hydrogen sulfide gas and is very bad for you in concentrated amounts.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is normally heavier than air, but when agitated in levels of toxicity it can paralyze the lungs.
OSHA warns that levels of 300 ppm cause the olfactory nerve to lose sensitivity. At first a "rotten egg" odor is detected but on the second or third breath, the odor is no longer noticed. At 600 ppm, breathing is inhibited, as the lungs fill with the gas.
If you doubt any of this google it.
Please be careful.
Moby
What the.......................are you seriouse??????

 

[vanquish]

I wouldnt worry too much.... It would take a lot of gas to kill you, esp if its more heavy than air. But then youre in a closed environment if its in youre basement. If you have no ventalation, it could be like running a car in a closed garage. I would say just open a window or a sliding door with a fan blowing out when you get home from work, to vent the gas. If you do that, no amount of gas it lets off could harm you. IMO, just dont let it build up and you'll be fine. It should help with the smell as well. remember that animals (including strange people) live in places like swamps which generate much higher levels of organic gasses than your LR is. the only diff is that its not in a closed space.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by moby
Hey alyssia, Please read!!!!
I don't want to worry you, it seems like you have your hands full aready. But be careful and keep that room ventilated (sp?)
The smell you are getting is hydrogen sulfide gas and is very bad for you in concentrated amounts.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is normally heavier than air, but when agitated in levels of toxicity it can paralyze the lungs.
OSHA warns that levels of 300 ppm cause the olfactory nerve to lose sensitivity. At first a "rotten egg" odor is detected but on the second or third breath, the odor is no longer noticed. At 600 ppm, breathing is inhibited, as the lungs fill with the gas.
If you doubt any of this google it.
Please be careful.
Moby

okay, I did NOT know that. Thanks for telling me. I've been keeping windows open to help with the smell. It's not nearly as bad today. Thank you so much! :happyfish

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
ok, so a week today and 3 changes. 2 of them were 100% if i read corectly? Yeah I have heard different oppinions on the smell. I was actually just asking lion about this the other day. Because I couldn't grasp why the rock is uncured at lfs when it is in water. He said it is partialy cured depending on how long lfs has it. This makes me think that the people who don't have the smell so bad got it after it was in the dealers tank for a week or more....make sense? Your's might have just arrived when they shipped it out to you. IDK, The stuff I am looking to get is in the water, but they get their stuff in a few times a week I think. I might just ask them to dig to the bottom for some!lol I am interested to see what your experience with it is, so I can be prepared and have time to buy some nose plugs!lol
'
Yep, 3 changes in a week. I ordered my rock thru the mail because all my lfs sell is cured and it is 6.99/lb. I still haven't seen a spike in my trites so I hope that happens soon, I am anxious to be done with this process.