Live rock question

[sjk2840]

I hope I'm posting this in the right section. I have a few questions on live rock. How do you "cure" it? can it be put into a tank right away and does it need special lighting or care??? I have a small FO tank right now and will eventually be setting up a larger tank. I have CC as a substrate and am running a 20 gallon Aqua Clear filter on the back. Its a 10 gallon aquarium.

thanks

 

[florida joe]

Place the live rock in a new 30-gallon plastic garbage can. Consider adding bottom drains to the container to speed draining and water changes.
Completely cover the rock with freshly mixed saltwater, with a specific gravity of 1.021 - 1.025.
Use a heater and keep the water temperature near 80 degrees to speed die off.
Provide constant water movement with a power head or air stone.
Keep the area dimly lit to prevent algae blooms.
Perform 100% water changes twice weekly.
Gently scrub the rock with a new nylon bristle brush or toothbrush between water changes to remove any white film or dead material.
When the water conditions stabilize and ammonia and nitrite tests are zero, the rock is ready to be placed into the display aquarium.

 

[sepulatian]

I prefer a shallow holding container with at least one power head and a heater. Being the rock is going into a 10 gallon tank, I am going to guess that it isn't a whole lot of rock. Be sure to pull or scrub off any dead material. Watch the ammonia. If it spikes to 1ppm, then do a water change. If you can keep the ammonia low, then you will be able to preserve the life on the rock.

 

[sprinter144]

Does your LFS carry live rock that's already cured? If so you may be able to use it immediately. If you have to ship it you'll have to cure it as described in the other posts.

 

[sjk2840]

ok, now that I've the the curing process taken care of. Do I need any water additives or special lighting?? I believe my LFS does have "cured" live rock. I've seen it sitting in a very large tank with water. When I eventually switch to a larger fish tank, will I need to run a protein skimmer??? Thanks to everyone who has answerd my questions. I had a 125 gallon salt Fo tank 8 years ago- moved and had to sell it-so I feel like I'm starting back over again.
This will be my first attempt with live rock-I'm tired of looking at my fake corals!!!

 

[stdreb27]

What is your plan? Do you need to have the rock ready for action as soon as it goes into your ten gallon? If you don't then just cure it with the rest of your tank then add livestock once it is done. You don't need light or additives just current and stable tempurature, you might need to "feed" the system but if you have rock with dieoff on it that shouldn't matter.

 

[sjk2840]

my tank has already cycled and there are fish in it. I just didnt want to get live rock, put it in there and have the tank cycle again because the rock wasn't cured. I have an idea of what I'm gonna do now. I've checked a few LFS's and will probably go and get a few pieces tonight. Most of the rock I saw was already "cured" and ready to go.

 

[sjk2840]

Ok, I bought about 8 1/2 pounds of live rock last night. My LFS said it had about 2 days to go until fully cured-so now it is soaking in a bucket with a power head. The water parameters are the same as my fish tank except for the water temperature. The water in the rock tub is about 74-76 and my fish tank is 80 degrees. Should I place the heater from my fish tank in the rock bucket or just leave it alone. My LFS said not to worry about warming up the water-I'm figuring by Saturday the rock will be ready to place in my DT. Any thoughts??? (There is a lot of pink and green color spots on the rocks-havent seen any black, white or crust looking algae spots.)

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by sjk2840
http:///forum/post/2616362
Ok, I bought about 8 1/2 pounds of live rock last night. My LFS said it had about 2 days to go until fully cured-so now it is soaking in a bucket with a power head. The water parameters are the same as my fish tank except for the water temperature. The water in the rock tub is about 74-76 and my fish tank is 80 degrees. Should I place the heater from my fish tank in the rock bucket or just leave it alone. My LFS said not to worry about warming up the water-I'm figuring by Saturday the rock will be ready to place in my DT. Any thoughts??? (There is a lot of pink and green color spots on the rocks-havent seen any black, white or crust looking algae spots.)
When the ammonia drops and the water in the bucket is good, stick aheater in there till the temp matches the dt and then move the rock over. Just to be safe.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2616365
When the ammonia drops and the water in the bucket is good, stick aheater in there till the temp matches the dt and then move the rock over. Just to be safe.
Right, go by the ammonia level, not the time line that the store suggested.

 

[sjk2840]

Hey, thanks a bunch for all the info on LR. Soon as I get it placed in my DT I will post pictures. I have some really nice pieces I'm sure my fish will love.