Dry Rock

msujohn · 11/21/2014, 11:04 AM

I'm planning on getting my first set up and have some questions on dry rock. I'm looking at either Marco rock or BRS Fuji rock. Do both of these rocks need to cure? Or can I start up a new tank with both of them?

msujohn · 11/21/2014, 11:05 AM

Also, my plan is to get 80% dry and 20% live from my LFS.

morleyz · 11/21/2014, 11:45 AM

Dry rock does not need to be cured. Just remember that it's dead rock, meaning it has no biological filtering capability and needs to be fully cycled before it is of any use. By adding the 20% live rock from your LFS, you will speed up the cycle, but it still will happen.

Just rinse off the dry rock and it is safe to add to your tank. Add your 20% live rock and then start the cycling.

joshky · 11/21/2014, 01:29 PM

I love starting tanks with dry rock, I always add a few pieces of live rock to help it along.

DaveRaz · 11/21/2014, 01:46 PM

No on marco rinse and Just be patient. I used Marco and its nice looking rock. I added small amount of live rock from LFS. I don't intend to put anything other than a cuc in the next month. It's been up and cycled for a month so far. Around month three I will add my first fish from the qt.

msujohn · 11/21/2014, 08:43 PM

If I was to add BRS Pukani rock does that require a long cycle time? Another stupid question, once the tank is filled with coral, etc, can you really tell what type of rock is in the tank?

pdiehm · 11/21/2014, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msujohn

If I was to add BRS Pukani rock does that require a long cycle time? Another stupid question, once the tank is filled with coral, etc, can you really tell what type of rock is in the tank?

I ordered 75lbs today from BRS. Was told to cure it in saltwater for 4-6 weeks to get the phosphates and such out. Told me, it can be done in a tank, but it won't smell all that good if there's a lot of die off on it.

morleyz · 11/22/2014, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdiehm

I ordered 75lbs today from BRS. Was told to cure it in saltwater for 4-6 weeks to get the phosphates and such out. Told me, it can be done in a tank, but it won't smell all that good if there's a lot of die off on it.

This makes sense if you're adding dry rock to an existing tank, but in a new, cycling tank with no livestock, I don't see any reason to "cure" it separately. Your cycle is going to take a while anyway and you do a massive water change when it's over.

pdiehm · 11/22/2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morleyz

This makes sense if you're adding dry rock to an existing tank, but in a new, cycling tank with no livestock, I don't see any reason to "cure" it separately. Your cycle is going to take a while anyway and you do a massive water change when it's over.

you clearly haven't met my wife

The smell would bother her, so I'm curing it in saltwater in the garage, at least until the phosphates are reasonable, then do what I need to.

Wryknow · 11/23/2014, 02:42 AM

Dry rock will require a full cure. Whether you do it in tank or not is completely up to you, but that's what I'm doing on my newest tank. I used the BRS Pukani and there are a lot of organics that need to be cleaned up - I have been cleaning my skimmer cup every 2 days since I started cycling 4 weeks ago. You should also run carbon for to help with the organics and GFO to help control phosphates during the cycle.

Teenreefer15 · 11/23/2014, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morleyz

Dry rock does not need to be cured. Just remember that it's dead rock, meaning it has no biological filtering capability and needs to be fully cycled before it is of any use. By adding the 20% live rock from your LFS, you will speed up the cycle, but it still will happen.

Just rinse off the dry rock and it is safe to add to your tank. Add your 20% live rock and then start the cycling.

it is not necessarily safe just from rinsing it off. I would recommend putting it in a bin with saltwater for a few weeks and doing frequent water changes until your params are stable. Some dry rocks could leak phosphate and maintain an unbalanced pH.

piratevern · 11/23/2014, 01:50 PM

I am doing about the same thing.. 29 Gal tank has 25 lbs of "Dead" rock and 10 lbs of Live rock... After 2 days ammonia levels reading 1 ppm.. Should I add a piece of shrimp?? I have read that to start a cycle you want Ammonia at about 2 ppm.. Any help Appreciated!

msujohn · 11/23/2014, 06:50 PM

Are there any downsides in curing the rock in the tank while it is cycling?

shaginwagon13 · 11/23/2014, 09:27 PM

Just for the general knowledge of this thread, Pukani is known to leach A LOT of PO4 for a long time unless treated. That equals lots of algae.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2049855

whosurcaddie · 11/24/2014, 08:52 AM

Please cure your dry rock in bins outside of the tank. Test for phosphate during this process and change the water when phosphate levels elevate. Almost all dry rock has phosphate bound up in it and curing it outside the tank is so much easier to deal with and will save you so much more money.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-07/nftt/index.php

11/21/2014, 11:04 AM	#1
msujohn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 92	Dry Rock I'm planning on getting my first set up and have some questions on dry rock. I'm looking at either Marco rock or BRS Fuji rock. Do both of these rocks need to cure? Or can I start up a new tank with both of them?

11/21/2014, 11:45 AM	#3
morleyz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 304	Dry rock does not need to be cured. Just remember that it's dead rock, meaning it has no biological filtering capability and needs to be fully cycled before it is of any use. By adding the 20% live rock from your LFS, you will speed up the cycle, but it still will happen. Just rinse off the dry rock and it is safe to add to your tank. Add your 20% live rock and then start the cycling. __________________ -jeff

11/23/2014, 02:42 AM	#10
Wryknow Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,203	Dry rock will require a full cure. Whether you do it in tank or not is completely up to you, but that's what I'm doing on my newest tank. I used the BRS Pukani and there are a lot of organics that need to be cleaned up - I have been cleaning my skimmer cup every 2 days since I started cycling 4 weeks ago. You should also run carbon for to help with the organics and GFO to help control phosphates during the cycle. __________________ You cannot use reason to change the opinion of a person that did not use reason to form their opinion in the first place. Current Tank Info: 65 G RR, w/ 50 G sump/refugium, DIY LED lighting, AquaMaxx CO-1 skimmer, Tunze 1073.050 return

11/23/2014, 09:27 PM	#14
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	Just for the general knowledge of this thread, Pukani is known to leach A LOT of PO4 for a long time unless treated. That equals lots of algae. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2049855 __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

11/21/2014, 11:05 AM	#2
msujohn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 92	Also, my plan is to get 80% dry and 20% live from my LFS.

11/21/2014, 01:29 PM	#4
joshky Acros & Wrasses Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Central KY Posts: 2,546	I love starting tanks with dry rock, I always add a few pieces of live rock to help it along.

11/21/2014, 01:46 PM	#5
DaveRaz Reef Rookie Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Memphis Posts: 625	No on marco rinse and Just be patient. I used Marco and its nice looking rock. I added small amount of live rock from LFS. I don't intend to put anything other than a cuc in the next month. It's been up and cycled for a month so far. Around month three I will add my first fish from the qt.

11/21/2014, 08:43 PM	#6
msujohn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 92	If I was to add BRS Pukani rock does that require a long cycle time? Another stupid question, once the tank is filled with coral, etc, can you really tell what type of rock is in the tank?

11/23/2014, 01:50 PM	#12
piratevern Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1	I am doing about the same thing.. 29 Gal tank has 25 lbs of "Dead" rock and 10 lbs of Live rock... After 2 days ammonia levels reading 1 ppm.. Should I add a piece of shrimp?? I have read that to start a cycle you want Ammonia at about 2 ppm.. Any help Appreciated!

11/23/2014, 06:50 PM	#13
msujohn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 92	Are there any downsides in curing the rock in the tank while it is cycling?

11/24/2014, 08:52 AM	#15
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Please cure your dry rock in bins outside of the tank. Test for phosphate during this process and change the water when phosphate levels elevate. Almost all dry rock has phosphate bound up in it and curing it outside the tank is so much easier to deal with and will save you so much more money. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-07/nftt/index.php