Curing Liverock

cabbage0709 · 09/17/2009, 11:43 AM

So ive had my LR in an 18gal tote for about 7 months with pump and a heater. I have seldom changed the water but have topped it off. I was just wondering if this was the correct way, i have not seen any difference in the rocks since i began. I think that i need to be doing 1/3 water changes just like i would with a regular tank but i was not sure if that much effort was involved. I know being lazy doesnt cut it in this hobby so i wanted to see what other people do.
Thanks

-Steven

droberts · 09/18/2009, 10:57 AM

have you been testing the water? you should see a rise in ammonia then it will max out and then drop once the bacteria grows and stabilizes in the tote but 7 monts worth of time should have definitely cured the live rock

seapug · 09/18/2009, 12:27 PM

If it's been in there for 7 months with circulation and has been getting topoffs it's probably fine. Testing the water for ammonia and nitrate is a good idea but the sniff test will tell you a lot. The rock and water should smell earthy like the ocean, not rancid.

Cozmo4 · 09/18/2009, 02:31 PM

If it's been in there for 7 months without any food source, it's quite possible (likely) that the beneficial bacteria has died off. How soon will you have it in a tank? Once you have it in a tank, I'd suggest that you give it some time for the beneficial bacteria to build up and go through a cycle. You can add a small pinch of flake food over a couple of days and test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every day or two to monitor the cycle. Without inducing a cycle, you won't know if there's enough (or any) beneficial bacteria to handle the load from any livestock you add.

cabbage0709 · 09/18/2009, 09:32 PM

Basically i dropped rocks into a tote with water and pump. So i will follow the inducing food method and start a cycle. Thanks for the help!

09/17/2009, 11:43 AM	#1
cabbage0709 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 264	Curing Liverock So ive had my LR in an 18gal tote for about 7 months with pump and a heater. I have seldom changed the water but have topped it off. I was just wondering if this was the correct way, i have not seen any difference in the rocks since i began. I think that i need to be doing 1/3 water changes just like i would with a regular tank but i was not sure if that much effort was involved. I know being lazy doesnt cut it in this hobby so i wanted to see what other people do. Thanks -Steven __________________ Get busy living, or get busy dying - Andy Dufresne (Shawshank Redemption)

09/18/2009, 10:57 AM	#2
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	have you been testing the water? you should see a rise in ammonia then it will max out and then drop once the bacteria grows and stabilizes in the tote but 7 monts worth of time should have definitely cured the live rock __________________ only one who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible Current Tank Info: Quart mason jar

09/18/2009, 12:27 PM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	If it's been in there for 7 months with circulation and has been getting topoffs it's probably fine. Testing the water for ammonia and nitrate is a good idea but the sniff test will tell you a lot. The rock and water should smell earthy like the ocean, not rancid. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/18/2009, 09:32 PM	#5
cabbage0709 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 264	Basically i dropped rocks into a tote with water and pump. So i will follow the inducing food method and start a cycle. Thanks for the help! __________________ Get busy living, or get busy dying - Andy Dufresne (Shawshank Redemption)

09/18/2009, 02:31 PM	#4
Cozmo4 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 583	If it's been in there for 7 months without any food source, it's quite possible (likely) that the beneficial bacteria has died off. How soon will you have it in a tank? Once you have it in a tank, I'd suggest that you give it some time for the beneficial bacteria to build up and go through a cycle. You can add a small pinch of flake food over a couple of days and test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every day or two to monitor the cycle. Without inducing a cycle, you won't know if there's enough (or any) beneficial bacteria to handle the load from any livestock you add.