Pondering a "unique" rock curing method

Orsamax · 03/05/2019, 03:20 PM

Howdy all,
I've posted this here as opposed to elsewhere because I don't posit this as a "new to the hobby" question, and I don't think it's quite theoretical enough to be considered an advanced topic either, so here goes:

I was very lucky in establishing my tank as I purchased most of my rock cured/cycled from my local LFS (the place is a mess, but the corals, fish, and inverts are healthy) and just plugged and played right away (not advised, I know). When I finally retire and settle down, I want a large (300-500 gallon) setup, and I'd be much less willing to take chances with something like that. Has anyone ever considered a hybrid curing method where they purchase cured live rock from a store or even just got it from other reefers, rinse it well with clean saltwater, and then just "nuked" it with all of the "last resort" pest treatments? I would do so before adding livestock, so that there would be no ill effects on fish, corals, or inverts. The reason I'm interested in this is that something in me doesn't like the idea of getting dry rock and starting a cycle by initially polluting the tank only to try to get the parameters back under control through the natural cycle. I'm sure that I'm missing something. But this hybrid approach seems to have the benefit having beneficial bacteria in the system without having to let the system get out of control in the first place in order to orchestrate a cycle. Thoughts?

mcgyvr · 03/05/2019, 04:36 PM

What exactly does nuked with all last resort pest treatments entail to you?

Orsamax · 03/05/2019, 04:54 PM

Thank you for your reply! So to be honest, I don't have them all memorized, but the things that you see in these forums where someone will say "you could use (insert chemical here) for your flatworm (or any other pest infestation, algae, dinos, or whatever) problem, but I would only do that as a last resort because it will impact your corals, fish, inverts, etc." But if you didn't have any livestock, and did a large (or complete) water change after treatments, before adding livestock you could treat for almost all ailments without the adverse side effects on livestock.

Vinny Kreyling · 03/05/2019, 05:27 PM

The real problem is things come in with livestock.
Even dipping corals may still let something microscopic in we can't see.
Have you ever said " where did that come from, I don't remember buying it?"

Cliving1 · 03/05/2019, 06:40 PM

I feel that would just be overkill. I would just buy rock from an lfs you trust or an online service like Tampa bay saltwater. You also don't know what putting them all in at once will do, possibly have negative effects?

homer1475 · 03/06/2019, 05:22 AM

If your going to "nuke" the rock, why go through the hassle of live rock? Your basically going to "nuke" the rock back to being just dry rock. Why not just save yourself the hassle and start with dry rock?

I personally would never start another tank with just dry rock, you miss so much of the biodiversity. Also most tanks I read about that have problems, started with dry rock. Yes you may get some unwanted hitchhikers, or some pest algae, but they can all be dealt with. The missing biodiversity from dead dry rock, does not outweigh the few pests/hitchhikers you may get with real live rock.

Orsamax · 03/06/2019, 07:05 AM

Thank you all. I appreciate your responses. Gives me a lot to think about.

03/05/2019, 03:20 PM	#1
Orsamax Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 60	Pondering a "unique" rock curing method Howdy all, I've posted this here as opposed to elsewhere because I don't posit this as a "new to the hobby" question, and I don't think it's quite theoretical enough to be considered an advanced topic either, so here goes: I was very lucky in establishing my tank as I purchased most of my rock cured/cycled from my local LFS (the place is a mess, but the corals, fish, and inverts are healthy) and just plugged and played right away (not advised, I know). When I finally retire and settle down, I want a large (300-500 gallon) setup, and I'd be much less willing to take chances with something like that. Has anyone ever considered a hybrid curing method where they purchase cured live rock from a store or even just got it from other reefers, rinse it well with clean saltwater, and then just "nuked" it with all of the "last resort" pest treatments? I would do so before adding livestock, so that there would be no ill effects on fish, corals, or inverts. The reason I'm interested in this is that something in me doesn't like the idea of getting dry rock and starting a cycle by initially polluting the tank only to try to get the parameters back under control through the natural cycle. I'm sure that I'm missing something. But this hybrid approach seems to have the benefit having beneficial bacteria in the system without having to let the system get out of control in the first place in order to orchestrate a cycle. Thoughts?

03/05/2019, 04:36 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	What exactly does nuked with all last resort pest treatments entail to you? __________________ Who me?

03/05/2019, 05:27 PM	#4
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	The real problem is things come in with livestock. Even dipping corals may still let something microscopic in we can't see. Have you ever said " where did that come from, I don't remember buying it?" __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

03/06/2019, 05:22 AM	#6
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	If your going to "nuke" the rock, why go through the hassle of live rock? Your basically going to "nuke" the rock back to being just dry rock. Why not just save yourself the hassle and start with dry rock? I personally would never start another tank with just dry rock, you miss so much of the biodiversity. Also most tanks I read about that have problems, started with dry rock. Yes you may get some unwanted hitchhikers, or some pest algae, but they can all be dealt with. The missing biodiversity from dead dry rock, does not outweigh the few pests/hitchhikers you may get with real live rock. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/05/2019, 04:54 PM	#3
Orsamax Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 60	Thank you for your reply! So to be honest, I don't have them all memorized, but the things that you see in these forums where someone will say "you could use (insert chemical here) for your flatworm (or any other pest infestation, algae, dinos, or whatever) problem, but I would only do that as a last resort because it will impact your corals, fish, inverts, etc." But if you didn't have any livestock, and did a large (or complete) water change after treatments, before adding livestock you could treat for almost all ailments without the adverse side effects on livestock.

03/05/2019, 06:40 PM	#5
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	I feel that would just be overkill. I would just buy rock from an lfs you trust or an online service like Tampa bay saltwater. You also don't know what putting them all in at once will do, possibly have negative effects?

03/06/2019, 07:05 AM	#7
Orsamax Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 60	Thank you all. I appreciate your responses. Gives me a lot to think about.