live rock question

[lionfish1]

I have 150g FO tank. I have had the tank going for about 6 months with great success. (with a few misshaps in the beginning) but I didn't know of this great resource until recently and relied on what my scetchy LFS workers told me. I now have one lionfish about 6" long, a rectangular trigger 8", 2 clowns, a lunar wrasse 6", 4 coral catfish 3-5", and 2 neon damsels. I setup the tank with no LR and now would like to get alot now that I know the benifits. my question is does the LR have to cure in a seperate tank or is my current tank OK. and if seperate for how long?

 

[nacl-man]

doesn't seem as if anyone has replied, so I'll give it a shot. In short, YES. Your live rock will need to cure in an isolated tank or rubbermaid container with a powerhead and a heater. Dump it in there with some fresh saltwater matching the salinity in your tank and then test until Ammonia and Nitrite = 0 then it should be ready to place in your tank... but: add it slowly! Just one piece every few days and you should be good to go.
Hope that helped... if not do a search for 'Live Rock Curing' and you should get quite a few posts regarding the process.
Cheers!

 

[lionfish1]

thanks for the help I appreciate it

 

[dreeves]

Lionfish...
To speed the curing process along a bit...keep the temp about 80-82 degrees, run some air, circulate, and every other day or so, scrub the rock with a nylon brush to aid in the removal of debris. Then change the water about every 3-4 days or so...or whenever it looks really nasty. Even with the curing process...too high amonia, nitrite and the nitrate can cause damage to any would be hitch hikers, or other growing forms on the rock.

 

[newbe reefer]

You can also buy cured LR. I think it's more $ but worth it, have you ever smelled LR curing!!!!!!!!
NewBe

 

[lionfish1]

I was just looking on SWF.com and the LR they are selling is pre-cured would i be able to put that in the tank right away?

 

[newbe reefer]

I put all my LR in my tank at the same time and had no adverse effects. You should test the water everyday to everyother day and maybe do a water change a week or so after puting in the rock. I would want to put the LR in the tank ASAP after getting it, so you loose as little life as possible on/in the rock.
NewBe

 

[lionfish1]

thanks Newbe i'll probably order it next week when i get paid. I see everyone elses tanks and they look great with LR and mine is kinda bland without it

 

[newbe reefer]

You'll find your self just staring at the rock for hours, saying oh what's this and wow what's that!!!!! Won't be long till you'll be wanting corals
Hope you get some cool peices.
NewBe

 

[brianrish]

Even though you order "cured" live rock, there will be some die off that occurs during shipping and will most likely cause and amonia spike in your tank.
Make sure you cure it, otherwise you may end up killing the fish you already have...which would be very sad.

 

[nacl-man]

i agree with brian, the dieoff from any LR you order online will cause an ammonia spike. If you don't have fish this is a perfect way to kick start your cycle... if you do have fish

 

[luvnluk]

I also agree - I added cured LR to my tank, shipped from this site, and experienced an ammonia spike due to an expected die off..... luckily, I had not yet added livestock. It would be worth it to go through the curing process - you have some nice fish!

 

[lionfish1]

yeah I would say better safe than sorry I don't need to be killing any fish.

 

[toungetwster]

I get my LR from LFS...a few pounds at a time cost is $4.99 lb..for cured and I usually add about 5-6 lbs at a time...without problems....but make sure it's "cured" before you buy...also this way you can pick the individual rocks yourself...makes it more interesting...like build a world..1 piece at a time....