Curing LR

[bheron]

Ok, I’m setting up a new 75g tank and have been reading a lot of posts on LR.
Uncured is obviously cheaper and I hear that you have to cure “cured” LR anyway if you get it shipped since there’s a lot of die-off. So why pay extra for the “cured”?
On the other hand, I have 75 gallons of prefect sparkling new water (.001 TDS) waiting in my tank (from my new airwaterice RODI) and I’d hate to throw in 100lbs of uncured rock. So, my questions are:
1)ignoring the cost factor, should I go with cured or uncured
2)should I cycle the rock in my brand new tank (I also have 4 inches of southdown there) or cure the rock first and then add to the tank for the cyle?
opinions?

 

[tony detroit]

I'd add the uncycled rock to the new tank. This will help spike your levels to achieve a better overall cycle. Then put in a cup full of shrimp. Then go to the LFS and buy a cup or two of gravel from a established system. Add it to your tank. Wait four weeks. Then test your water until all levels are at zero. Wait a couple days and test again until all levels are at ZERO.
Ammonia should be ZERO
Nitrite should be ZERO
Nitrate can be slightly in the middle of the scale if you're just keeping fish but if you're going reef you want to keep that to a minimum.
the first two levels are the most important. If I can stress anything to you go buy a couple books first. This will save you a lot of headaches and dead fish in the long run.

 

[justchillin]

the only change i would make to the above post involves the shrimp...
my general rule is 1 shrimp per each 25 gal for a good cycle...
and remember, one the cycle is over add fish slowly, one at a time...
good luck with the new setup...what do you plan on keeping?

 

[bheron]

thank you!!
i've actually read alot of the books already - have run out of them actually and its hard to find good ones that are up to date.
i will have a fuge. my tank will be a 75G with about and extra 25G for a sump and a seperate fuge. mainly this will be FOWLR and some simply inverts like cleaner crews, feather dusters, ect. i'm not interested in taking on a SPS or anything right now. but i hear, once i'm successful, i'll want them too!
(this is actually my third run at the tank. the first two runs were done completely blind! about 7 months ago, after finding this site actually, i started over and have been planning and taking my time since then. i hope to have LR in there and the cycle started in then next 2 weeks)
thanks

 

[sparky0028]

SquishyFish
When you say reef rubble and sand from the lfs do you mean from the curing tank or the tank that it is place in after it has been cured?