started cooking live rock

tuckrule · 01/30/2008, 05:47 PM

I started cooking my live rock today after I had a complete crash of the tank due to a heater cracking in the sump.
I scrubbed each rock the other day to get the coral and other decaying matter off and placed it in a 32 gallon pail with salt water and a power head.
Today, I set aside 3 pails of salt water at 1.025 and swished each rock in each pail and placed in a clean 32 gal container. I refreshed the buckets of water half way through and finished the chore.
Its been about 7 hours since they were dunked in the first bath, they are sitting in a container with a power head and they are covered.
The smell is real bad!! My question is ... Is this normal? I'm guessing yes, because its due to die off. If anybody has done this process first hand, could you please provide some insight for me? I plan to do another dunk this saturday. I plan on doing two dunks a week for 2 to 3 weeks and then 1 dunk a week for another 2 to 3.
BTW, the crap that was at the bottom of the buckets was unbelievable, it knd of made me feel good to get rid of all that stuff, but as I said before, I am real concerned about the smell.

Gary Majchrzak · 01/30/2008, 05:51 PM

the smell and appearance of detritus means that you're a good cook

tuckrule · 01/30/2008, 05:56 PM

I was hoping you would say that!! Does the smell eventually go away?

Gary Majchrzak · 01/30/2008, 06:00 PM

hopefully yes!
If not you have a real problem.

reefdogg1107 · 01/30/2008, 07:12 PM

Nice to see another Raiders fan!!!!

tuckrule · 01/30/2008, 07:55 PM

Thanks reefdogg. Its been hard times though.

Paradiddle7 · 01/31/2008, 08:52 AM

You might want to setup a skimmer too.

01/30/2008, 05:47 PM	#1
tuckrule Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Greece, NY Posts: 887	started cooking live rock I started cooking my live rock today after I had a complete crash of the tank due to a heater cracking in the sump. I scrubbed each rock the other day to get the coral and other decaying matter off and placed it in a 32 gallon pail with salt water and a power head. Today, I set aside 3 pails of salt water at 1.025 and swished each rock in each pail and placed in a clean 32 gal container. I refreshed the buckets of water half way through and finished the chore. Its been about 7 hours since they were dunked in the first bath, they are sitting in a container with a power head and they are covered. The smell is real bad!! My question is ... Is this normal? I'm guessing yes, because its due to die off. If anybody has done this process first hand, could you please provide some insight for me? I plan to do another dunk this saturday. I plan on doing two dunks a week for 2 to 3 weeks and then 1 dunk a week for another 2 to 3. BTW, the crap that was at the bottom of the buckets was unbelievable, it knd of made me feel good to get rid of all that stuff, but as I said before, I am real concerned about the smell. __________________ Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. Current Tank Info: 90G reef 20g sump 2/250mh 4vhos

01/30/2008, 05:51 PM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	the smell and appearance of detritus means that you're a good cook __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

01/30/2008, 05:56 PM	#3
tuckrule Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Greece, NY Posts: 887	I was hoping you would say that!! Does the smell eventually go away? __________________ Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. Current Tank Info: 90G reef 20g sump 2/250mh 4vhos

01/30/2008, 06:00 PM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	hopefully yes! If not you have a real problem. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

01/30/2008, 07:12 PM	#5
reefdogg1107 Steve Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: St Augustine Fl Posts: 418	Nice to see another Raiders fan!!!! __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: Preparing for a 35 hex mini reef..

01/30/2008, 07:55 PM	#6
tuckrule Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Greece, NY Posts: 887	Thanks reefdogg. Its been hard times though. __________________ Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't. Current Tank Info: 90G reef 20g sump 2/250mh 4vhos

01/31/2008, 08:52 AM	#7
Paradiddle7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Amherst Posts: 797	You might want to setup a skimmer too.