Did i screw up? Marco Rocks.

kdrof · 06/13/2011, 07:59 PM

Hey all, i recently purchased 150 lbs of Marco rock. I was excited because i know its clean rock. I just read that i should "cook" it. Well my concern is... I spent hours and hours getting my aquascape how i wanted it and am very happy with it. I am just filling up RODI water in my tank. Can i let the rocks sit with no light and a powerhead for a few days? Then do a water change and maybe another. I didnt want to waste a ton of salt on water that i would just have to get rid of anyways... I dont care if it stinks.. i forwarned the wife

. But any help would be greatly appreciated, Kevin

kdrof · 06/13/2011, 08:01 PM

O yea, one more thing. I attached the rocks with aquarium glue as well.. so getting it apart wouldnt be fun.

Lynnmw1208 · 06/13/2011, 08:06 PM

I left mine for 3 days while my RO/DI water was filling up the tank. It was fine but boy did it STINK!

dlp211 · 06/13/2011, 08:07 PM

If it were me, and I add this disclaimer that I am still new to the hobby. But I would use saltwater and a heater and start cycling your tank as is. The smell will go away after a few days and you shouldn't have to do a large water change because of the rock. You might do water changes because of nitrates, algae, etc.

kdrof · 06/13/2011, 08:36 PM

Ok thanks guys, Lynn.. Did your water turn yellow or anything? i read a thread and someone said that their water turned crappy.. thats why i was tentative to put salt in it.. But they looked pretty clean.

ReefKnot · 06/13/2011, 08:38 PM

I used marco rock. I built my scape then filled with RO/DI and added salt and then seeded the tank..... I'm 7 weeks in and haven't had a problem. If you are cycling the tank with the rock in there, I dont think you need to cook it....

I'm no expert but I dont think you'll have any problems.

kdrof · 06/13/2011, 08:40 PM

Ok Reefknot, thanks for the reply! I appreciate it.

James404 · 06/13/2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefKnot

I used marco rock. I built my scape then filled with RO/DI and added salt and then seeded the tank..... I'm 7 weeks in and haven't had a problem. If you are cycling the tank with the rock in there, I dont think you need to cook it....

I'm no expert but I dont think you'll have any problems.

Agreed, if this is a new tank just fill it up, get your salinity right and on with the cycle.

kdrof · 06/13/2011, 08:46 PM

Yep its brand new. Thanks James for the reassurance!

Makes me feel alot better

albano · 06/13/2011, 08:56 PM

pretty sure there is a thread here, about heavy phosphates in Marco rock...would suggest water changes and testing

.

dzfish17 · 06/13/2011, 09:01 PM

I used over 400 lbs of marcorock primecuts and I didnt cook it either. Same as above... I filled the tank and started the cycle.

Gfoot2000 · 06/13/2011, 09:08 PM

heat up your tank with heaters, be careful not to take out your heaters right after you unplug

edit: nevermind, everyone seems to be doing ok without cooking

Lynnmw1208 · 06/13/2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdrof

Ok thanks guys, Lynn.. Did your water turn yellow or anything? i read a thread and someone said that their water turned crappy.. thats why i was tentative to put salt in it.. But they looked pretty clean.

Yeah it turned a yellow color but after the tank was completely full of RO/DI, I put salt in and started to run carbon in the sump. The discoloration soon went away

Oh and a skimmer helps pull the gunk out too.

Lynnmw1208 · 06/13/2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James404

Agreed, if this is a new tank just fill it up, get your salinity right and on with the cycle.

+1 this is what I did. Those rocks really help the cycle start!

kdrof · 06/19/2011, 03:17 PM

Well guys, a little update. I filled with water wednesday and added live sand to the marco rocks. I didnt rinse or anything and my water is clear as ever and no smell. I called Marc from Marco rock and he said dont worry about rinsing the rocks are clean. So i went ahead and just added RODI with salt that was mixed. Skimmer really isnt pulling much of anything out either. I turned it on friday after i let the bacteria and sand settle. Thanks for the help.

littlefish09 · 06/19/2011, 06:22 PM

ive had no problems either

Polahbear · 06/19/2011, 10:06 PM

I had some that had a strong stink, then another time it was very faint. So I'd suggest getting the salt in there and getting that cycle started, if you get the stink you can always do a change if needed, but you would get a stink if you used the shrimp method to cycle anyway.

C0rp · 06/19/2011, 11:34 PM

I used 125 lbs to start my tank, 8 months in and zero issues. I did not cook or clean anything. As a sidenote, I have run GFO since day 1, and use a DSB.

06/13/2011, 07:59 PM	#1
kdrof Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 277	Did i screw up? Marco Rocks. Hey all, i recently purchased 150 lbs of Marco rock. I was excited because i know its clean rock. I just read that i should "cook" it. Well my concern is... I spent hours and hours getting my aquascape how i wanted it and am very happy with it. I am just filling up RODI water in my tank. Can i let the rocks sit with no light and a powerhead for a few days? Then do a water change and maybe another. I didnt want to waste a ton of salt on water that i would just have to get rid of anyways... I dont care if it stinks.. i forwarned the wife . But any help would be greatly appreciated, Kevin

06/13/2011, 08:06 PM	#3
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	I left mine for 3 days while my RO/DI water was filling up the tank. It was fine but boy did it STINK! __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

06/13/2011, 08:38 PM	#6
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	I used marco rock. I built my scape then filled with RO/DI and added salt and then seeded the tank..... I'm 7 weeks in and haven't had a problem. If you are cycling the tank with the rock in there, I dont think you need to cook it.... I'm no expert but I dont think you'll have any problems. __________________ Tank: 50 Gallon DT, 29g Sump, 65g total, 75lbs Live Rock, 45lbs Live Sand, 4x54w T5HO, Bubble Magus NAC 3.5, Glass-Holes Overflow, Mag 9.5 pump with 2 drilled returns, BRS Carbon & GFO Reactor, 2 Vortech MP10w ES Livestock: 2 Occelaris, 1 Scissortail Dartfish, 1 Striped Blenny, 1 Purple Fire Goby, 1 Yellow Clown Goby, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, Snails and Scarlet Hermits

06/13/2011, 08:56 PM	#10
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	pretty sure there is a thread here, about heavy phosphates in Marco rock...would suggest water changes and testing . __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

06/13/2011, 09:01 PM	#11
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	I used over 400 lbs of marcorock primecuts and I didnt cook it either. Same as above... I filled the tank and started the cycle. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

06/13/2011, 08:01 PM	#2
kdrof Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 277	O yea, one more thing. I attached the rocks with aquarium glue as well.. so getting it apart wouldnt be fun.

06/13/2011, 08:07 PM	#4
dlp211 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 591	If it were me, and I add this disclaimer that I am still new to the hobby. But I would use saltwater and a heater and start cycling your tank as is. The smell will go away after a few days and you shouldn't have to do a large water change because of the rock. You might do water changes because of nitrates, algae, etc.

06/13/2011, 08:36 PM	#5
kdrof Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 277	Ok thanks guys, Lynn.. Did your water turn yellow or anything? i read a thread and someone said that their water turned crappy.. thats why i was tentative to put salt in it.. But they looked pretty clean.

06/13/2011, 08:40 PM	#7
kdrof Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 277	Ok Reefknot, thanks for the reply! I appreciate it.

06/13/2011, 08:46 PM	#9
kdrof Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 277	Yep its brand new. Thanks James for the reassurance! Makes me feel alot better

06/13/2011, 09:08 PM	#12
Gfoot2000 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 61	heat up your tank with heaters, be careful not to take out your heaters right after you unplug edit: nevermind, everyone seems to be doing ok without cooking

06/19/2011, 03:17 PM	#15
kdrof Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 277	Well guys, a little update. I filled with water wednesday and added live sand to the marco rocks. I didnt rinse or anything and my water is clear as ever and no smell. I called Marc from Marco rock and he said dont worry about rinsing the rocks are clean. So i went ahead and just added RODI with salt that was mixed. Skimmer really isnt pulling much of anything out either. I turned it on friday after i let the bacteria and sand settle. Thanks for the help.

06/19/2011, 06:22 PM	#16
littlefish09 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: methuen, ma Posts: 55	ive had no problems either

06/19/2011, 10:06 PM	#17
Polahbear Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Saginaw Michigan Posts: 94	I had some that had a strong stink, then another time it was very faint. So I'd suggest getting the salt in there and getting that cycle started, if you get the stink you can always do a change if needed, but you would get a stink if you used the shrimp method to cycle anyway.

06/19/2011, 11:34 PM	#18
C0rp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 431	I used 125 lbs to start my tank, 8 months in and zero issues. I did not cook or clean anything. As a sidenote, I have run GFO since day 1, and use a DSB. __________________ 75RR, 4" DSB, 29G AE Tech Sump/fuge/ETSS skimmer w Mag9.5, Mag5 Return, RKE w Net, Tunze Osmolator, Tradewind 1/5HP Chiller, 6x54 ATI T5HO, Vortech MP40WES/MP10WES w/Battery Backup, Sarcophyton, Clavularia, Capnella, Briareum, Lobophytum, Nepthea, Sinularia Flexibilis, Ricordia, Discosoma, Rhodactis, Zoanthus, Caulastrea, Blastomussa Wellsi, Isaurus Tuberculatus, Seriatopora Hystrix, Plerogyra Sinuosa, Euphyllia Paradivisia, Tubipora Musica, Ecsenius Midas, Paracheilinus Carpenteri Current Tank Info: pH 8.0-8.2, Temp 78-80, Salinity 1.026, Alk 9dKH, Ca 400, Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

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