lr curing

kellen85 · 09/26/2007, 12:32 PM

i'm currently curing about 60lbs of rock. i was told that you only have to test for amonia before you can place in dt tank. is this true or should i test for other things as well?

MrSpiffy · 09/26/2007, 01:55 PM

I would wait until nitrites (don't confuse with nitrATEs!) are down to 0 as well, which should happen shortly after the ammonia goes down to 0. Once they're both down to 0, you should be pretty good to go. I'd also scrub any algae or other unwanted items off of the rock, too, just for safe measure.

pledosophy · 09/26/2007, 02:13 PM

IMO after the ammonia and nitrite levels go down to zero you are going to want to add a source of ammonia such as pure unscented bottled ammonia (Smart and Final sells it for $2) or a quanity of fish food or cocktail shrimp from the grocery store.

Wait six hours or so and then test for ammonia and nitrites.

Getting a zero reading off the rock does mean that it is cured, however it does not mean that it has a large enough bacteria population to support the nitrogen cycle yet, jus tthat the bacteria that is present has used up the available ammonia.

IME increasing the temperature of the tank the rock is curing in does help to speed up the process of curing as it is creating a better enviroment for the bacteria to grow in.

If your going the pure ammonia route keeping a slight presence of ammonia is also helpful as the bacteria will always have food readily available. You have to keep the present level low as even bacteria is sensitive to higher levels of ammonia. The high levels of ammonia will impede the growth rate of the bateria.

HTH

kellen85 · 09/26/2007, 03:08 PM

i'm adding this rock to my dt tank thats already been up and runnnning for quite some time

09/26/2007, 12:32 PM	#1
kellen85 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 106	lr curing i'm currently curing about 60lbs of rock. i was told that you only have to test for amonia before you can place in dt tank. is this true or should i test for other things as well?

09/26/2007, 02:13 PM	#3
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	IMO after the ammonia and nitrite levels go down to zero you are going to want to add a source of ammonia such as pure unscented bottled ammonia (Smart and Final sells it for $2) or a quanity of fish food or cocktail shrimp from the grocery store. Wait six hours or so and then test for ammonia and nitrites. Getting a zero reading off the rock does mean that it is cured, however it does not mean that it has a large enough bacteria population to support the nitrogen cycle yet, jus tthat the bacteria that is present has used up the available ammonia. IME increasing the temperature of the tank the rock is curing in does help to speed up the process of curing as it is creating a better enviroment for the bacteria to grow in. If your going the pure ammonia route keeping a slight presence of ammonia is also helpful as the bacteria will always have food readily available. You have to keep the present level low as even bacteria is sensitive to higher levels of ammonia. The high levels of ammonia will impede the growth rate of the bateria. HTH __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

09/26/2007, 01:55 PM	#2
MrSpiffy Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,300	I would wait until nitrites (don't confuse with nitrATEs!) are down to 0 as well, which should happen shortly after the ammonia goes down to 0. Once they're both down to 0, you should be pretty good to go. I'd also scrub any algae or other unwanted items off of the rock, too, just for safe measure.

09/26/2007, 03:08 PM	#4
kellen85 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 106	i'm adding this rock to my dt tank thats already been up and runnnning for quite some time