my LR

Ok so I have been curing some LR for exactly two weeks as of today. I have several questions. First of I have 90lbs fiji LR in two seperate rubbermaids each with a powerhead and a heater. I have done about 3 100% water changes. The rock claimed to be pre cured, and the site said it would only take 1 week to get it ready to go into the tank. However, I dont think it is.
The water is finally remaining clear, but the ammonia is sky high. When it came in I noticed there was alot of redish maroon sponge type stuff on the rock. LR Ive purchased at the LFS has never had this. Anyway tonight I pulled a piece out and noticed that the sponge is peeling off really easily. Underneath the sponge is a dirty grayish black layer that smells absoultely awful. So.... My main question is, is the sponge good or bad. Should I wait to put the rock in until the spnge is gone? When do I know the rock is cured, and lastly should I continue these waterchanges??
 

scott9311

Member
I don't think you should be doing 100% water changes... Everytime it starts to build bacteria to combat the ammonia, you get rid of it by doing massive water changes (IMO). I've never had to cure LR before, but I think you only want to do partial...say 20%.
 

yosemite sam

Active Member
You should take all those sponges off of the rock. They are dead, which is why they stink so bad. Are they the hard, encrusting kind? I had a bunch of those on the lr I cycled for the tank I have now. You can pick them off with your finger, or use a toothbrush. Get all that decaying stuff off, and out of the tupperwares, and see what your ammonia is then.
 

yosemite sam

Active Member
Nope. There are good bacteria all over the rocks, in the tupperware, where ever. Scraping off the sponges won't hurt a thing.
 

thangbom

Active Member
hey.. i am currently cureing some marsahll lr myself.... there are buch of seaweed like stuff on it.. take it off?? leave it?? what exactly to keep? what to rid??.....(sry for stealing your trend)...
 
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