to cold to "cook"

LGB76 · 01/07/2013, 10:35 AM

I am in the process of trying to cook/cure pukani rock. I placed them in a large tub in my garage last night but its around 35 outside and the heaters cannot keep up and was wondering if its still ok to try and cure the rock with LC with 2 power heads outside (will the cause harm to anything) or should I move it inside where its warmer and the water isnt freezing cold, I just dont want the smell in my house.

OregonReefer2 · 01/07/2013, 01:44 PM

The cold temps shouldn't be a problem for "curing" your Pukani if you're just looking to clean it. If you're looking to establish bacteria (IE:cycle) on your rock I don't know if the bacteria that develops in water that cold would survive/be the same as bacteria that develops in warmer water.

That said, Pukani can release/leach phosphates for some time. When I set my tank up about 1.5 years back I had some concerns with my Pukani detailed here
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855

It's a pretty long read but you can flip to the last page to see my current basic recommendations on "best practice" to "cure" this rock.

LGB76 · 01/07/2013, 02:01 PM

I have been reading this thread for a few days, and started the process last night but ended it after thinking it was going to be to cold for anything to help, I ordere some seaklear today and should be here at the end of the week. I guess I will start the process again when I get the seaklear.

I am not concerned with it cycling outside of the DT, just wanting to cure the rock.

OregonReefer2 · 01/07/2013, 02:28 PM

LOL, yes that thread will take days to read... It ended up much longer than I ever expected

I would think (this is just my humble opinion) that the only problem you would have with curing in the cold is I would guess that organics in the rock break down slower... Much like food in the refrigerator lasts much longer than food out in the open

01/07/2013, 10:35 AM	#1
LGB76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 539	to cold to "cook" I am in the process of trying to cook/cure pukani rock. I placed them in a large tub in my garage last night but its around 35 outside and the heaters cannot keep up and was wondering if its still ok to try and cure the rock with LC with 2 power heads outside (will the cause harm to anything) or should I move it inside where its warmer and the water isnt freezing cold, I just dont want the smell in my house.

01/07/2013, 01:44 PM	#2
OregonReefer2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 324	The cold temps shouldn't be a problem for "curing" your Pukani if you're just looking to clean it. If you're looking to establish bacteria (IE:cycle) on your rock I don't know if the bacteria that develops in water that cold would survive/be the same as bacteria that develops in warmer water. That said, Pukani can release/leach phosphates for some time. When I set my tank up about 1.5 years back I had some concerns with my Pukani detailed here http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855 It's a pretty long read but you can flip to the last page to see my current basic recommendations on "best practice" to "cure" this rock.

01/07/2013, 02:01 PM	#3
LGB76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 539	I have been reading this thread for a few days, and started the process last night but ended it after thinking it was going to be to cold for anything to help, I ordere some seaklear today and should be here at the end of the week. I guess I will start the process again when I get the seaklear. I am not concerned with it cycling outside of the DT, just wanting to cure the rock.

01/07/2013, 02:28 PM	#4
OregonReefer2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 324	LOL, yes that thread will take days to read... It ended up much longer than I ever expected I would think (this is just my humble opinion) that the only problem you would have with curing in the cold is I would guess that organics in the rock break down slower... Much like food in the refrigerator lasts much longer than food out in the open