Problem with uncured LR

remy

Member
I made the stupid mistake to buy Uncured live rock for my tank. I cycled it and after the cycle was done i added 3 little fish. They are doing fien and everything. I received the rock 10 minutes ago, and my wife pointed out that the rock was pre-cured NOT cured. I'm assuming that if i add the rock, it will kill my fish, is it true ? what are my options ?
 

organism

Member
you could cure the live rock in heated buckets of saltwater with a small powerhead in there, as opposed to having them cycle in your tank, should work out nicely and minimize the cycle impact on your tank when you eventually put them in there
also, what kind of fish are in there currently, out of curiousity?
 

remy

Member
I dont have the additional equipment to add a heater and a powerhead and additional salt water, the fish are 1 royal gramma and 2 percula clowns
 

remy

Member
should i run to a store and get a 30g bucket and get Salt and a heater? or do you think the fish will make it...
Grr.. it sucks
 

remy

Member
The more I wait the more DieOff right? So, what should i do? put the LR in the aquarium for now ? until i have an alternative place to put them ? please help me
 

druluv

Member
fyi Remy
How to cure: You'll see on most message boards and other dealers that curing this rock in a 30 gallon trash can will work great. I think this is a really big mistake. You can not control the ammonia in such a small volume of water. I would recommend getting as big of water container as you can, or tank. You want a massive skimmer, if you have an extra skimmer throw it on the tank, run as many as you can (unless you have an ETS, that will do the trick). You want strong water circulation, the more the better. You do want to run lights during curing. The reason people say not to is because you can't control ammonia and nutrients in a small trash can. If you get enough skimmer and water volume you can. Do water changes as needed. Syphon off all dead debrie you can find, pull off any dead sponges, plants etc. I personally do not scrub the rock, i try and save anything that looks "ify". If you can control these elements during the curing (2-3 weeks) and keep the lights on, you'll have a great rock when you are done, complete with coralline algae, plants, corals, copepods, misc critters, all the goodies you need for the reef tank.
 

remy

Member
Thanx for the tip.
So, I guess my final question is. Can this be done WITH the fish in the tank with the LR? is there anyway i could control the amonia level ( with chemicals or something ? ) or is it hopeless?
 

greatfullreefer

Active Member

Originally posted by Remy
Thanx for the tip.
So, I guess my final question is. Can this be done WITH the fish in the tank with the LR? is there anyway i could control the amonia level ( with chemicals or something ? )


:nope:
 

durabane

Member
I started with a small amount of rock and 3 damsels and 2 clownfish then I bought 100 pounds of live rock and added it to the tank. I ran white diamond ammonia control media in my cannister unit and in the back containers of my emporer over the back unit. The white diamond controled the ammonia so I did not lose any fish and kept the tank from recycling. I was able to keep track of the levels and do water changes to keep nitrates and nitrates down. The only warning I would give is if you dont have the time to test every day and the ability to do 10% water changes whenever needed then cure outside your tank. I have now purchased a used 75 to use for a hospital tank and a curing station much better but I know when I started I just had the one tank. U can make most things work if u have the time to spend on them
 

druluv

Member

Originally posted by Remy
Thanx for the tip.
So, I guess my final question is. Can this be done WITH the fish in the tank with the LR? is there anyway i could control the amonia level ( with chemicals or something ? ) or is it hopeless?


You'll be surprise, damsels are pretty hardy animals. Keep doing as many water changes as you can and moniter your tank nh3-4, no2. Keep The skimmer going and readjust so that you are always producing skimmate. Maybe some carbon can help with the organics.
Good Luck !!!!
 

e.e.l.

Member
the clowms will do just fine,the gramma will not make it.
imo take the gramma to the lfs for credit and then put the rock in.
 

bcollie

Member

Originally posted by Durabane
. The white diamond controled the ammonia so I did not lose any fish and kept the tank from recycling.

I thought this product was just for freshwater?
 

durabane

Member
If it was no one told me and I didnt know any better ran it through the entire proccess of adding my live rock to help with the ammonia. I had already cycled my tank with the small amount of rock I could afford when I set up my tank. I then got 100# more and ran the Black and White crystal blend until the ammonia dropped back to 0 the after I changed back to activated charcoal again ammonia spiked a little after that but by that time live filtration took care of it I just help nature out with the hard part.
Durabane
 

remy

Member
Ok, I took an hour drive to the nearest LFS I bought more salt, a skimmer,, some more testing kits. I was gonna try to add the 50lb LR in the 55g tank WITH my 2 clows and the Royal Gramma... but on the way back My wife suggested to buy a tank instead of a 30g bucket or whatever, so we went to get a 30g tank and we set the rock in there (btw, My hands were full of tiny slivers after i was done and it hurt like hell, I didnt know it would do that) then we added the salt water, the power head + skimmer + heater + etc...
We just thought it would be kinda mean to make the fish go through all that crap. Do you guys have any tips for me ?
Did i do something wrong again? I bet i did...
PS: After setting up the rock in the 30g .. I realized that I'm gonna need twice as much.
Thanx to all of you for the help, I really needed it!
please post more info :)
 
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