Is my rock cured?

btmarquis · 02/10/2008, 08:19 PM

I am starting my first saltwater aquarium, and I have been curing some live rock for a little over a week now. I got 60lbs of uncured live rock from marine depot live. When it arrived, the styrafoam containers were broken, and the rock was rather cold. It was about 35 degrees outside. I went to my local store and got 10 lbs of cured rock just incase everything was dead on the rock that came in the mail. I cleaned the rock, and put it in a 45 gallon rubbermaid tub with a heater, 3 power heads and prizm skimmer. I tested the salinity and ph before adding the rock. After 3 days I tested ammonia and it was at 0. I tested ammonia and nitrite today and both are at 0. Its been curing for 8 days. There is no detectable odor. Is it possible that it is cured? Or does it take a while for ammonia to spike? I did clean the rock really good, scraping off everything that was black or soft. Either way, I am going to move the rock into the aqurium within the next 2 weeks, but not add any fish or corals for a month or two. Thanks.

demonsp · 02/10/2008, 08:22 PM

If main tank isnt cycled then just add and let it all cycle together.

justdiving · 02/10/2008, 08:24 PM

Hi welcome!

I am not an expert on rock yet, and thus have no opinion on this. I usually start out with base rock and work from there over time. small bits at a time till I have everything stable.

jaw969 · 02/10/2008, 08:50 PM

You should be fine. I would add it all at once and let it finish the cycle there. If enough live (cured) rock is added your cure time will be minimal.

btmarquis · 02/10/2008, 09:15 PM

Thanks guys. I think that I am going to get live sand next weekend and set up the main tank.

02/10/2008, 08:19 PM	#1
btmarquis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 52	Is my rock cured? I am starting my first saltwater aquarium, and I have been curing some live rock for a little over a week now. I got 60lbs of uncured live rock from marine depot live. When it arrived, the styrafoam containers were broken, and the rock was rather cold. It was about 35 degrees outside. I went to my local store and got 10 lbs of cured rock just incase everything was dead on the rock that came in the mail. I cleaned the rock, and put it in a 45 gallon rubbermaid tub with a heater, 3 power heads and prizm skimmer. I tested the salinity and ph before adding the rock. After 3 days I tested ammonia and it was at 0. I tested ammonia and nitrite today and both are at 0. Its been curing for 8 days. There is no detectable odor. Is it possible that it is cured? Or does it take a while for ammonia to spike? I did clean the rock really good, scraping off everything that was black or soft. Either way, I am going to move the rock into the aqurium within the next 2 weeks, but not add any fish or corals for a month or two. Thanks.

02/10/2008, 08:50 PM	#4
jaw969 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Centennial, CO Posts: 1,067	You should be fine. I would add it all at once and let it finish the cycle there. If enough live (cured) rock is added your cure time will be minimal. __________________ How do you kick this habit anyway.......saltwater addicts anonymous? Current Tank Info: Oceanic 120 RR-Aquamedic Ocean light-Tunze 9015-Will be a mixed reef

02/10/2008, 09:15 PM	#5
btmarquis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 52	Thanks guys. I think that I am going to get live sand next weekend and set up the main tank. __________________ First tank, 4gallon Finnex- http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1336560

02/10/2008, 08:22 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	If main tank isnt cycled then just add and let it all cycle together.

02/10/2008, 08:24 PM	#3
justdiving Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 40	Hi welcome! I am not an expert on rock yet, and thus have no opinion on this. I usually start out with base rock and work from there over time. small bits at a time till I have everything stable.