Right Place at the Right Time ?

[bevo77]

I went to my LFS to buy a test kit as I am in the finishing stages of cycling my 1st SW tank. When I got there, a shipment of Fiji lr was being unloaded. Ther were 12 boxes, each weighing between 40-45 lbs. The boxes were covered with air freight stickers and it was aparent that they had arrived straight from the South Pacific. The employee was making room for the new rock in the curing tank and was nice enough to let me open the boxes for him.
I was amazed at how fresh the rocks looked and smelled. There was quite an assortment of shapes and sizes. There was quite a bit of "life" visible and the colors were incredible. Orange,yellow, pink, purple and green.
I bought a little over 50 lbs at 3.99 per pound. I wish I could have bought more.
My questions are:
1) How long ago do you think the rock was harvested ?
2) I put it straight into the tank. Do you think I will get an amonia spike ?
3) Was I lucky or not. I sure felt that way and I had a blast getting to cherry pick 600 lbs of lr.
Thanks as always,
Bevo

 

[volitan]

If it smelled fresh, hopefully you won't have much die-off. I'd definitely monitor your levels for awhile though.

 

[broomer5]

Sounds like you were a "kid in a candy store"
Have no idea on how long it's been out of the ocean - if I were to guess, maybe 2-3 weeks. Normally they cure it on open air racks with a saltwater spray for a couple weeks - that is what I've read at least.
I'd guess that you'll get some amount of die off, and some bump/spike in your ammonia/nitrites. All depends.
Would be fun to pick through that much nice live rock and choose the "best" pieces. Must have been hard to decide with that many choices.
You should follow Volitan's advise and watch your levels. Even if you do get a re-cycle of the tank - it's sounds like it will be well worth it in the long run.

 

[cyn]

You have me wondering which LFS got that much rock? Especially that much nice rock! I agree with monitering things, but if the rock smelled fresh, you should be ok. You will always get some die off, the rock has been exposed to air more than once.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
cyn

 

[k.lee]

It depends. Many adverts. suiggest curring under spraybars, and such. It could have been harvested 6 months to twelve ago depending on overhead.
3.99 US a lb for fji sure doesn't sound primo cured tyo me. I'm paying like 8 bucks a pound for tonga straight from the reef areas, uncured at a lfs.