Strange LR curing test results...

sn4265 · 10/09/2010, 08:19 PM

I started curing my LR yesterday. Today I scrubbed the rocks to remove the loose macro stuff. I also picked up a Precision Marine Rl175 skimmery today and did about a 50% water change to clear up from some of the scrubbing falloff, most of the scrubbing was done in another vat though. Anyway, I ran thru all of the basic tests, just to get used to the new test kit more than anything. Here is the results.

pH: 8.2
Ammonia: Nil
Nitrites: Nil
Nitrates: 80ppm
Salinity: 1.029

I think the salinity was high because I did the water change & there may have been some evaporation that I didn't makeup with freshwater. The part that thru me was the nitrates being so hi already. I guess there was just a LOT of loose nitrates in on the rock surface.

These numbers look pretty normal for starting to cure LR?

philosophile · 10/09/2010, 08:33 PM

Was the rock already cured or was it completely uncured rock? Maybe the LFS did a good job curing it for you already.

Or maybe the nitrates where just in the rock still from LFS.

I'd give it a few more days and check again later.

sn4265 · 10/09/2010, 08:55 PM

This was completely uncured Fiji rock straight out of the boxes.

m-rass · 10/10/2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sn4265

This was completely uncured Fiji rock straight out of the boxes.

oooh, yeah its going to take a while, keep doing small water changes, it'll get there.

Good luck!

aleonn · 10/10/2010, 12:59 AM

Wow, I don't think my test kit can measure nitrates that high. In addition to water changes, I'd also run the skimmer.

A sea K · 10/10/2010, 07:15 AM

It doesnt look right at all to me. With nitrates being the end result of the cycle you would have to see ammonia first then nitrite before you would see any nitrate. Hopefully just testing error as I wouldnt expect to see anything in just a 24 hr period anyway.

sn4265 · 10/10/2010, 07:19 AM

That's why I started the thread. The only thing to me that makes sense is that the nitrates must have been on the rock to begin with and I simply didn't do a good enough job rinsing off the rocks before putting them in the curing vat.

jeff@zina.com · 10/10/2010, 07:58 AM

Or that you have nitrates in your water source. Are you using RODI water?

Jeff

10/09/2010, 08:19 PM	#1
sn4265 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 570	Strange LR curing test results... I started curing my LR yesterday. Today I scrubbed the rocks to remove the loose macro stuff. I also picked up a Precision Marine Rl175 skimmery today and did about a 50% water change to clear up from some of the scrubbing falloff, most of the scrubbing was done in another vat though. Anyway, I ran thru all of the basic tests, just to get used to the new test kit more than anything. Here is the results. pH: 8.2 Ammonia: Nil Nitrites: Nil Nitrates: 80ppm Salinity: 1.029 I think the salinity was high because I did the water change & there may have been some evaporation that I didn't makeup with freshwater. The part that thru me was the nitrates being so hi already. I guess there was just a LOT of loose nitrates in on the rock surface. These numbers look pretty normal for starting to cure LR?

10/09/2010, 08:33 PM	#2
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	Was the rock already cured or was it completely uncured rock? Maybe the LFS did a good job curing it for you already. Or maybe the nitrates where just in the rock still from LFS. I'd give it a few more days and check again later. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

10/10/2010, 07:15 AM	#6
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	It doesnt look right at all to me. With nitrates being the end result of the cycle you would have to see ammonia first then nitrite before you would see any nitrate. Hopefully just testing error as I wouldnt expect to see anything in just a 24 hr period anyway. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

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10/09/2010, 08:55 PM	#3
sn4265 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 570	This was completely uncured Fiji rock straight out of the boxes.

10/10/2010, 12:59 AM	#5
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Wow, I don't think my test kit can measure nitrates that high. In addition to water changes, I'd also run the skimmer.

10/10/2010, 07:19 AM	#7
sn4265 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 570	That's why I started the thread. The only thing to me that makes sense is that the nitrates must have been on the rock to begin with and I simply didn't do a good enough job rinsing off the rocks before putting them in the curing vat.

10/10/2010, 07:58 AM	#8
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	Or that you have nitrates in your water source. Are you using RODI water? Jeff