100 lbs Marco rocks look what you get

mark728 · 07/26/2008, 12:14 PM

Monday I got my Marco rocks 100lbs and I must say I've seen there rocks in the past but this shipment was very clean and just what I asked for ,it ended up being about 110 lbs but its nice to have some extra rubble to mount frags to.In the pics I have 2 different aquascapes that were working on we seem to like the one with the 3 islands best but not sure yet. My ? is what's the best way to cycle and clean this rock I was going to pressure wash and then soak it for 2 days in some vinager then put it in my 120 tech tank with 120lbs of live sand to cycle is this best way any marco rock experts chime in with any thoughts on this . Thanks

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mark728 · 07/26/2008, 12:25 PM

Some more pics

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mark728 · 07/26/2008, 12:33 PM

More pics

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mark728 · 07/26/2008, 12:42 PM

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mark728 · 07/26/2008, 01:02 PM

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mark728 · 07/26/2008, 01:28 PM

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Kannin · 07/26/2008, 04:44 PM

Marco Rocks do have a lot of dead sponges and mussels in them I soaked mine for tree days in a 10:1 RODI/vinegar solution and it wasn't enough. They leached alot of phosphates and created a very bad cyano bloom. If I had it to do over again... I would do a good job picking off what you can see, soak for 5 or 6 days in a 5:1 solution and then a few days in mixed salt water with a skimmer.

salty joe · 07/26/2008, 05:33 PM

I read about soaking them in a 30 to 1 solution of bleach for a couple days. After pressure washing the rock was said to be clean.

mark728 · 07/26/2008, 07:41 PM

Its safe to soak in bleach are you sure how would i get all of it off the rock

streetjudge79 · 07/26/2008, 07:44 PM

wash it good after the bleach and let it soak in dechlorinated fresh water for a week. That's what I'm doing now with mine.

Jflip2002 · 07/26/2008, 07:50 PM

If youre real patient, you can try cooking them. Itd be the sureshot way of making sure phosphates are low, and theyre live. You gotta seed them with some live rock, though.

pledosophy · 07/26/2008, 08:20 PM

Cooking works really well IME with type sof base rock. otherwise I have always had problems, even in the cleanest of tanks.

alpha0r · 07/26/2008, 08:54 PM

+1 cooking

ThePhytoMan · 07/26/2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alpha0r
+1 cooking

+2

you won't regret it.

mark728 · 07/27/2008, 10:09 AM

Thanks guys for all the help ,I've helped set up tanks with Marco rocks before and a good pressure wash and then let them cycle in a big tub with a good skimmer and some wc and tested till all was clear but 1 is lps tanks with low lighting and 1 is a sps tank that has been up for 6 months all is good sofar but I do not want any problems with my sps tank so you say cooking is the way to go i have some time I am in no hurry i have the tank 120 tech ,400w 20k xm Lumen Bright 3,2 250w 10k reeflux or 20k radium Lumen Max 2,octo extreme 250 ,octo RS-300 sump for skimmer,then a pm BG-36 sump i will turn into a slow flow Refugium,geo 618 reactor ,1 ph contr,and 1 ph probe for tank ph,2 vortech ,2 max jet 1200 modded,all PVC hard and soft plumbing,mag 18 to feed tank reactor,sump and refugium,140lbs live sand fine,2 phos/reactors 2 t5 Fiji purple,4 vho actinics,actinic white ,all run on icecap ballast, top off tank run on float valve ,
Seachem reef salt ,some zeovite products not full blown zeo , all the stuff i have for my tank is brand new ,i want to do it right the 1st time i learned from past mistakes , but i never cooked rock before anyone that has done it with marco rock please give me detail instructions on how to do so .THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP

GSMguy · 07/27/2008, 10:50 AM

Nice rock, i can not reccomend cooking it enough.

i used a few Marco rocks on my tank and they are the only places algae grows in my tank, the rest of my rock is purple with no algae growth, and the marco rocks has purple turf algae growing on it. I am going to have to pull most of the marco rocks out and cook them propperly .

tufacody · 07/27/2008, 11:56 AM

I used at least 100 lbs marco in my 180. I let it sit in a strong muriatic solution for 4 days, then put it in a holding tank with with a skimmer for another week. The 180 has been up for 7 months now and I have absolutely no nuisance algae growing on it and it is coloring nicely. IMO Marco is the way to go.

07/26/2008, 12:14 PM	#1
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	100 lbs Marco rocks look what you get Monday I got my Marco rocks 100lbs and I must say I've seen there rocks in the past but this shipment was very clean and just what I asked for ,it ended up being about 110 lbs but its nice to have some extra rubble to mount frags to.In the pics I have 2 different aquascapes that were working on we seem to like the one with the 3 islands best but not sure yet. My ? is what's the best way to cycle and clean this rock I was going to pressure wash and then soak it for 2 days in some vinager then put it in my 120 tech tank with 120lbs of live sand to cycle is this best way any marco rock experts chime in with any thoughts on this . Thanks [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 12:25 PM	#2
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	Some more pics [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG] [/IMG][IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 12:33 PM	#3
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	More pics [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 12:42 PM	#4
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 01:02 PM	#5
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 01:28 PM	#6
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 04:44 PM	#7
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	Marco Rocks do have a lot of dead sponges and mussels in them I soaked mine for tree days in a 10:1 RODI/vinegar solution and it wasn't enough. They leached alot of phosphates and created a very bad cyano bloom. If I had it to do over again... I would do a good job picking off what you can see, soak for 5 or 6 days in a 5:1 solution and then a few days in mixed salt water with a skimmer. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

07/26/2008, 05:33 PM	#8
salty joe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: medina, ohio Posts: 2,419	I read about soaking them in a 30 to 1 solution of bleach for a couple days. After pressure washing the rock was said to be clean. __________________ Time to roll the dice.

07/26/2008, 07:41 PM	#9
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	Its safe to soak in bleach are you sure how would i get all of it off the rock __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/26/2008, 07:44 PM	#10
streetjudge79 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miami Beach, Fl Posts: 1,970	wash it good after the bleach and let it soak in dechlorinated fresh water for a week. That's what I'm doing now with mine.

07/26/2008, 07:50 PM	#11
Jflip2002 Eagles & Tigers Fan Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,543	If youre real patient, you can try cooking them. Itd be the sureshot way of making sure phosphates are low, and theyre live. You gotta seed them with some live rock, though. __________________ I hate cheap powerheads. Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder

07/26/2008, 08:20 PM	#12
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	Cooking works really well IME with type sof base rock. otherwise I have always had problems, even in the cleanest of tanks. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

07/26/2008, 08:54 PM	#13
alpha0r Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 297	+1 cooking

07/27/2008, 10:09 AM	#15
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	Thanks guys for all the help ,I've helped set up tanks with Marco rocks before and a good pressure wash and then let them cycle in a big tub with a good skimmer and some wc and tested till all was clear but 1 is lps tanks with low lighting and 1 is a sps tank that has been up for 6 months all is good sofar but I do not want any problems with my sps tank so you say cooking is the way to go i have some time I am in no hurry i have the tank 120 tech ,400w 20k xm Lumen Bright 3,2 250w 10k reeflux or 20k radium Lumen Max 2,octo extreme 250 ,octo RS-300 sump for skimmer,then a pm BG-36 sump i will turn into a slow flow Refugium,geo 618 reactor ,1 ph contr,and 1 ph probe for tank ph,2 vortech ,2 max jet 1200 modded,all PVC hard and soft plumbing,mag 18 to feed tank reactor,sump and refugium,140lbs live sand fine,2 phos/reactors 2 t5 Fiji purple,4 vho actinics,actinic white ,all run on icecap ballast, top off tank run on float valve , Seachem reef salt ,some zeovite products not full blown zeo , all the stuff i have for my tank is brand new ,i want to do it right the 1st time i learned from past mistakes , but i never cooked rock before anyone that has done it with marco rock please give me detail instructions on how to do so .THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA

07/27/2008, 10:50 AM	#16
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Nice rock, i can not reccomend cooking it enough. i used a few Marco rocks on my tank and they are the only places algae grows in my tank, the rest of my rock is purple with no algae growth, and the marco rocks has purple turf algae growing on it. I am going to have to pull most of the marco rocks out and cook them propperly . __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

07/27/2008, 11:56 AM	#17
tufacody Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,890	I used at least 100 lbs marco in my 180. I let it sit in a strong muriatic solution for 4 days, then put it in a holding tank with with a skimmer for another week. The 180 has been up for 7 months now and I have absolutely no nuisance algae growing on it and it is coloring nicely. IMO Marco is the way to go.