curing dry rock

gquimby1 · 12/29/2016, 09:22 AM

How long should I cure my dry rock? I bought it from a local guy who tore down his tank over a year ago and it's sat in my basement since then. When I pulled it out yesterday it looked good. Just covered in his salt and sand. I have it in a tank with salt water, a powerhead and a heater right now. How long should I do this? I've read anywhere from 3 weeks to a few months. If it's been in my basement for a year isn't everything dead? Aren't I just waiting for it to clean? Which I understand means all the gunk and stuff I can't see has to break down and what not but do I need to actually "cure" it?

Just wondering. I already had a 29g up and running that I've had for a year and I've got my 90 in the basement with water in it to leak test it. It's held water for 2 weeks so I think we're good. Just wanting to do everything right this time. Don't want to rush this.

Thanks guys

scooter31707 · 12/29/2016, 09:42 AM

just as if you were cycling a tank. Let it cure until all parameters are good.

Volcmreefer · 12/29/2016, 11:30 AM

What kind of rock is it? I would do an acid bath with muriatic acid to ensure any phosphates are removed from the rock and then dose with lanthanum chloride if you can take your time. You can find many articles on here that discussion detail how to do it.

Volcmreefer · 12/29/2016, 11:31 AM

Check that, muriatic acid is to remove organics, lanthanum is to remove phosphates. Happy reefing!

12/29/2016, 09:22 AM	#1
gquimby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 43	curing dry rock How long should I cure my dry rock? I bought it from a local guy who tore down his tank over a year ago and it's sat in my basement since then. When I pulled it out yesterday it looked good. Just covered in his salt and sand. I have it in a tank with salt water, a powerhead and a heater right now. How long should I do this? I've read anywhere from 3 weeks to a few months. If it's been in my basement for a year isn't everything dead? Aren't I just waiting for it to clean? Which I understand means all the gunk and stuff I can't see has to break down and what not but do I need to actually "cure" it? Just wondering. I already had a 29g up and running that I've had for a year and I've got my 90 in the basement with water in it to leak test it. It's held water for 2 weeks so I think we're good. Just wanting to do everything right this time. Don't want to rush this. Thanks guys

12/29/2016, 09:42 AM	#2
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	just as if you were cycling a tank. Let it cure until all parameters are good.

12/29/2016, 11:30 AM	#3
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	What kind of rock is it? I would do an acid bath with muriatic acid to ensure any phosphates are removed from the rock and then dose with lanthanum chloride if you can take your time. You can find many articles on here that discussion detail how to do it.

12/29/2016, 11:31 AM	#4
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Check that, muriatic acid is to remove organics, lanthanum is to remove phosphates. Happy reefing!