How to cure LR

vman181

Member
A friend of mine got orders to California and gave me his LR. The only thing is, is it has been sitting out of the SW for about a week in a Styrofoam cooler. I opened it up and it is still kind of most in side. The guy at the LFS said it would be ok just to through it in my tank w/o curing it first b/c it is only 5 small rocks totaling about 10 to 13 pounds. Would it be ok and if not how do you go about curing LR
Thanks for the help
Vman
 

wablondie98664

Active Member
those rocks are going to have some amount of die off, if you put it in your tank right away it will create ammonia. to cure it just put the rocks in a rubbermaid containr with saltwater and a powerhead for circulation, you can brush of some of the die off with a tooth brush, it's best to let the rocks sit in the water for about 2-3 weeks, and change the water every few days
 

michaeltx

Moderator
dont forget the heater to keep the temp up but its going to take time so dont get impatient with it it could last as long as a normal tank cycle.
Mike
 
I

irenicus

Guest
Best let the live rock sick for 4 weeks to be on the absolute safe side... That way you don't introduce ich cysts. I have mine in a rubbermaid tote right now with a powerhead and light on it. I don't have a heater, but its hot in my apartment and with the light its staying around 76-78.
 

vman181

Member
I put the LRs in a Styrofoam container. I bought some SW from the LFS today. I don’t have any extra power heads. I did put an air hose in it just to keep the water moving a little. IMO this will be ok but then again I don’t know a whole lot any opinions would be great. The funny thing is, is that I gave my friend a large lefty hermit crab. When I moved one of the LR out of his Styrofoam container he was in there and very much alive. To me this is a good thing b/c they were out of water for about a week.
vman
 

dreeves

Active Member
Circulation, heat and time is what will cure the rock...raise the heat to about 80-82 to speed the die off...circulate with the air if that is all you have...and change the water about once every 4-5 days or so...keep checking the amonia...
Once the amonia goes to 0...the rock is cured...and not a moment before...
 
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