How to cure live rock?

rolikesfish · 09/26/2010, 02:31 PM

How do you cure live rock? How long does it take? And how do you know once it is cured?

shifty51008 · 09/26/2010, 02:41 PM

put the LR in a tub or empty tank, fill with NSW add a heater and powerhead and let it sit. test weekly for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. your cycle will be complete after your ammonia and nitrites are at 0 for 1 week. this whole process usually take 4-6 weeks.

Canadian Reefer · 09/26/2010, 02:41 PM

Put it in a rubbermaid or othe suitable container with sea water, a heater and a power head or two. Do a WC after a week and check your params after that 2 weeks it should be fine. When you are curing it try not to let it get light with all the die off and nutrients in the water you could get a huge algal bloom.
Good luck let us know how you make out

rolikesfish · 09/26/2010, 05:49 PM

Thanks for the replies, another question, what temperature should I keep the water at?

shifty51008 · 09/26/2010, 07:15 PM

78-80 is good. the same as you would for when you place it in your main tank.

rgulrich · 09/27/2010, 10:10 AM

I come from the school of treating live rock like any other organism: put it into a container (tub, aquarium, whatever) with mixed saltwater, strong circulation, and robust filtration to include protein skimmer, carbon, and GFO. Perform routine water changes to avoid ammonia (and subsequent nitrite and nitrate) spikes that kill off more organisms on the rock. Change out/clean the filters on a routine basis. Keep lighting to a minimum for the first week, and then gradually ramp up the lighting schedule (keeping your water parameters in check).
This approach yielded a large variety of zoanthids, sponge, and even some stony coral grown from chips on my (now three plus year old) 200lbs of Tonga, and minimized dieoff.
Cheers,
Ray

09/26/2010, 02:31 PM	#1
rolikesfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 137	How to cure live rock? How do you cure live rock? How long does it take? And how do you know once it is cured?

09/26/2010, 02:41 PM	#3
Canadian Reefer Reefer Madness Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 261	Put it in a rubbermaid or othe suitable container with sea water, a heater and a power head or two. Do a WC after a week and check your params after that 2 weeks it should be fine. When you are curing it try not to let it get light with all the die off and nutrients in the water you could get a huge algal bloom. Good luck let us know how you make out __________________ Reefing can't be an addiction, I don't smoke it or drink it. I just need it to be happy!

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09/26/2010, 02:41 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	put the LR in a tub or empty tank, fill with NSW add a heater and powerhead and let it sit. test weekly for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. your cycle will be complete after your ammonia and nitrites are at 0 for 1 week. this whole process usually take 4-6 weeks.

09/26/2010, 05:49 PM	#4
rolikesfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 137	Thanks for the replies, another question, what temperature should I keep the water at?

09/26/2010, 07:15 PM	#5
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	78-80 is good. the same as you would for when you place it in your main tank.

09/27/2010, 10:10 AM	#6
rgulrich greybeard Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MD Posts: 893	I come from the school of treating live rock like any other organism: put it into a container (tub, aquarium, whatever) with mixed saltwater, strong circulation, and robust filtration to include protein skimmer, carbon, and GFO. Perform routine water changes to avoid ammonia (and subsequent nitrite and nitrate) spikes that kill off more organisms on the rock. Change out/clean the filters on a routine basis. Keep lighting to a minimum for the first week, and then gradually ramp up the lighting schedule (keeping your water parameters in check). This approach yielded a large variety of zoanthids, sponge, and even some stony coral grown from chips on my (now three plus year old) 200lbs of Tonga, and minimized dieoff. Cheers, Ray