Live Rock

[plateboy3293]

I purchased 52 lbs of dry base rock for my 90 gallon aquarium. I am planning on buying 38 lbs of live rock. Since the tank has been set up for 6 months it has fish and inverts. So the curing will take place in 2 20 gallons plus 2-3 more 10 gallons if needed. They will be cured for two months before being added to dt.
How should I add the rock to the established 90 gallon?

[mattsilvester]

Am I understanding this correctly - you want to add 38lbs or LR and 52 lbs of dry base rock to an established 90 gal? So you are going to "cure" it in a few spare tanks?

Lots of info missing here, or else I;m missing something

I'll make some assumptions: you basically want to "pre-cure" said rock before adding to your display.

To do this, you will need a container, or containers with a heater and strong pump, plus salt warer (obvisouly). I would suggest spending a few hours with a toothbrush and twezzers and cocktail sticks etc. cleaning the dead LR - even better, pressure wash it if you can. Get as much crap out of it as you can. Then plonk the lot, along with the "new" LR into a container, and let to settle for a week or so - testing daily, recodring results.

You will most likely get an ammonia spike. The mistake people make is that once the "spike" subsides, they thing all the decaying matter is gone........ not so. All it means is that sufficient baceria have multiplied to cope with the waste / ammonia. As long as nitrite and nitrate continue to rise, you have decaying material........ then the nitrate should start to either fall or level off....... then it is ready.

Does this answer your questions?

[plateboy3293]

Yes and thank you. I am putting 32 8lbs of live rock with 52 lbs of dry rock to get bacteria on the dry rock.