Curing Techniques
- Thread starter ackermsb
- Start date
maroonclownfan
Member
large rubbermaid tub
saltwater (of course)
heater
power head (for circulation)
cheap flourescent light (optional)
10-15% Water change every couple weeks
saltwater (of course)
heater
power head (for circulation)
cheap flourescent light (optional)
10-15% Water change every couple weeks
cboyfan2020
Active Member
the way maroonclownfan described it is how 95% of people do it.
cboyfan2020
Active Member
just a plain old powerhead to keep the water circulated and probably a 150w heater depending on the size of your tub will work.
overanalyzer
Active Member
you could buy already cured LR from the LFS. I usually wait until he has had the rocks about a month .... then I go in and pick some pieces out and add them to the tank.
maroonclownfan
Member
A cheap power head and heater can probably be found locally for under $20 each. Cheaper on the internet.
A rubbermade container , ~30 gal., will cost about $8-$10
A thorough cure will last 3-4 weeks. Check water parameters, once ammonia and nitrites are gone, then the rock is "cured"
You can also get rid of unwanted hitchhikers by keeping the salinity low. However, you may get rid of "wanted" beneficial hitchhikers too. Your call.
MCF
A rubbermade container , ~30 gal., will cost about $8-$10
A thorough cure will last 3-4 weeks. Check water parameters, once ammonia and nitrites are gone, then the rock is "cured"
You can also get rid of unwanted hitchhikers by keeping the salinity low. However, you may get rid of "wanted" beneficial hitchhikers too. Your call.
MCF
overanalyzer
Active Member
You can also have two buckets set up - one with hypo-salinty - like 1.011 or less and you can dunk each rock in that bucket watch as the critters come scurrying out. Then move the rock to your main curing container (one bucket one curing station).
OR
You can have a hypo salinty bucket - then a bucket of cold fresh water. Just dunk for a few seconds in the fresh water and have a net handy - to scope up critters and move them either to your curring tank or in the case of unknowns or mantis shrimp - to a seperate tank .... of course you could have either really warm or really cold water for this and it will speed up the critter jumping.
Then move the rocks to your curing tank (rubbermaind container) and go from there.
Then you should have a hypo salinity bucket full of critters and cast-offs. fish out anything you are unsure of and then slowly acclimate that bucket up to your curing tank standards and introduce those critters into your curing tank/rubbermaid.
OR
You can have a hypo salinty bucket - then a bucket of cold fresh water. Just dunk for a few seconds in the fresh water and have a net handy - to scope up critters and move them either to your curring tank or in the case of unknowns or mantis shrimp - to a seperate tank .... of course you could have either really warm or really cold water for this and it will speed up the critter jumping.
Then move the rocks to your curing tank (rubbermaind container) and go from there.
Then you should have a hypo salinity bucket full of critters and cast-offs. fish out anything you are unsure of and then slowly acclimate that bucket up to your curing tank standards and introduce those critters into your curing tank/rubbermaid.
dreeves
Active Member
Moving water...heater to about 80-82 degrees....put the rock in higher salinity about 1.040 for a few minutes...kills nothing..and sends the creepy crawleys out...mix your higher salinity in a 5 gallon bucket..get a nylon bristle brush...set a few pieces in there for about 3-4 minutes...scrub them gently with the brush, dunk them back to remove debris...put into your curing bin with normal salinity and increased temp. The increased temp speeds the decaying process, the powerhead keeps the water moving to remove additional matter as it becomes free...and the airline keeps the water O2 levels great. Do the brush scrubs at each water change...I personally think two weeks is entirely too long between the changes...I do mine at about 3-4 day intervals.
Once the rock doesn't stink anymore or the odor starts diminishing...check the amonia level...or use your judgement in placing the rock in the tank.
Oh and also...you can put a couple of little hermits in there after a week or so..they help consume some of the die off.
Once the rock doesn't stink anymore or the odor starts diminishing...check the amonia level...or use your judgement in placing the rock in the tank.
Oh and also...you can put a couple of little hermits in there after a week or so..they help consume some of the die off.