smell of live rocks

StixS · 03/23/2006, 12:41 AM

hey guys, if i were to cure my live rocks in the main tank how bad would the smell be if i had some carbon and a skimmer working?

Blown 346 · 03/23/2006, 01:32 AM

The smell would still be prwetty rank depending on if the rock is totally uncured.

StixS · 03/23/2006, 02:12 AM

would anyone recomend doing this or is it somthing u dont want to experience again?

Bigbob59 · 03/23/2006, 05:18 AM

How much rock and how large the tank? I assume your main tank already has critters in it? Lots of variables decide the outcome.

My two cents = I would not do it ( risk -reward)
Put it in a tub with a skimmer/flow.

Good luck from another newbie (9 months of learning !)

tygger · 03/23/2006, 08:27 AM

It depends on how much die-off there will be and how much rock you get, but expect It tol smell like a port-a-potty.

Wiskey · 03/23/2006, 09:26 AM

I expect it will stink perty bad, I would put it in a rubber maid tub, plus that way you need less water for water changes to keep down the smell.

Whiskey

fishy-doc · 03/23/2006, 10:48 AM

well it will smell bad no matter where you do it

if your tank is already up and running with other rock and maybe fish and coral, then no do not add it to your tank until it is already cured!

a separate tank/tub/bucket should work fine

joeychitwood · 03/23/2006, 10:56 AM

I cured about 60 pounds in a 55 several years ago. I did about 10-15 pounds at a time. It did smell somewhat, but with good skimming and carbon, it wasn't overwhelming by any means.

The smell is transient. I am pretty finicky about odors, cleanliness, etc. in my house, and I thought the process was brief enough and mild enough to do.

StixS · 03/23/2006, 11:17 AM

thanks for the response, yea im getting 88 lbs of the pukani rock from reefermadness, so yea probably going to put it in a tub thanks again

pcragg · 03/23/2006, 01:51 PM

I did it with my 140.

Stunk up the whole house but got better after a week. Wife got upset but it was the easiest way to do it. You will need a really high power skimmer to keep the stench down.

OnTheReef · 03/23/2006, 02:32 PM

I am with fishy-doc, I made this mistake once, never again will I add uncured rock to an already healthy system. Lots of stuff died on the old rock as the new rock cured and it took twice as long to get the combination new and old rock healthy again as it did for the first batch. Like I said, never again.

tygger · 03/23/2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StixS
thanks for the response, yea im getting 88 lbs of the pukani rock from reefermadness, so yea probably going to put it in a tub thanks again

Hey, I just got my order of 88lbs of Pukani from RM last Saturday. It's curing in tank right now.

Your adding this to a new setup, right?

StixS · 03/23/2006, 03:06 PM

yea its for a new set up, the pieces are real nice dispite the abuse through fedex (box tore and bag was exposed). i decide to put the rocks in a tub and im glad i did, after seeing how big one or 2 of the main pieces were

tygger · 03/24/2006, 07:01 AM

Did you take any pics?

LittlePuff · 03/24/2006, 09:19 PM

I've got uncured rock. Been in the tank for 2 days, no smell. Is something wrong?

Kim

tygger · 03/24/2006, 11:17 PM

Where did you get it from and how much did you get?

LittlePuff · 03/25/2006, 09:11 PM

Marine Depot 11lbs. for nano tank.

Kim

tygger · 03/27/2006, 08:19 AM

Don't think there's anything wrong. From what I've read, MD rock (did you get marshall island) comes in pretty clean.

Plus, 11lbs isn't that much rock so the smell should be minimal, esp. if you have a skimmer.

justin1977justi · 03/27/2006, 12:07 PM

I also got 11lbs from Marine Depot. I cured it for two weeks and never had any smell at all. I took rocks out and smelled them to see if the small amount of rock and the skimmer were masking the smell, but still nothing. Rock is in tank now and looks great. My levels never changed.

LittlePuff · 03/27/2006, 09:51 PM

Good. Thanks!

Kim

blenny90 · 03/27/2006, 10:24 PM

A lot of the die off will depend on how the rock was shipped. If the rock was sent wet - wrapped in wet towels - the die off will be less noticeable. Temperature the rock was submitted to during shipping will also determine the amount of die off.

Uncured rock will have an acidic smell to it. Properly cured rock will have very little smell.

03/23/2006, 12:41 AM	#1
StixS Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: bay area Posts: 24	smell of live rocks hey guys, if i were to cure my live rocks in the main tank how bad would the smell be if i had some carbon and a skimmer working?

03/23/2006, 08:27 AM	#5
tygger Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,631	It depends on how much die-off there will be and how much rock you get, but expect It tol smell like a port-a-potty. __________________ 15g Nano 72g reef + 29g sump/fuge

03/23/2006, 09:26 AM	#6
Wiskey Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 3,049	I expect it will stink perty bad, I would put it in a rubber maid tub, plus that way you need less water for water changes to keep down the smell. Whiskey __________________ This video shows 15 months of coral growth in my tank in a 30 second timelapse: https://youtu.be/bF6C57aTDEo

03/23/2006, 01:51 PM	#10
pcragg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 60	I did it with my 140. Stunk up the whole house but got better after a week. Wife got upset but it was the easiest way to do it. You will need a really high power skimmer to keep the stench down. __________________ 140 Oceanic Reef 2 400W 20k Plusrite 2 110W Actinic VHO 250 Pounds LR Octopus EXT-PS200 No sump Current Tank Info: 140 Oceanic Reef

03/23/2006, 02:32 PM	#11
OnTheReef Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 340	I am with fishy-doc, I made this mistake once, never again will I add uncured rock to an already healthy system. Lots of stuff died on the old rock as the new rock cured and it took twice as long to get the combination new and old rock healthy again as it did for the first batch. Like I said, never again. __________________ 100 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump/fuge combo with RDSB 2x ASM G2 with gate valve mod TLF phos reactor w/Rowaphos, Seachem Nitrate sponge 4x55w 50/50 actinic PC Current USA 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 n Current Tank Info: 50 & 100 gallon reef tanks

03/23/2006, 01:32 AM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	The smell would still be prwetty rank depending on if the rock is totally uncured.

03/23/2006, 02:12 AM	#3
StixS Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: bay area Posts: 24	would anyone recomend doing this or is it somthing u dont want to experience again?

03/23/2006, 05:18 AM	#4
Bigbob59 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Fernandina, Fl Posts: 1	How much rock and how large the tank? I assume your main tank already has critters in it? Lots of variables decide the outcome. My two cents = I would not do it ( risk -reward) Put it in a tub with a skimmer/flow. Good luck from another newbie (9 months of learning !)

03/23/2006, 10:48 AM	#7
fishy-doc Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 85	well it will smell bad no matter where you do it if your tank is already up and running with other rock and maybe fish and coral, then no do not add it to your tank until it is already cured! a separate tank/tub/bucket should work fine

03/23/2006, 10:56 AM	#8
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I cured about 60 pounds in a 55 several years ago. I did about 10-15 pounds at a time. It did smell somewhat, but with good skimming and carbon, it wasn't overwhelming by any means. The smell is transient. I am pretty finicky about odors, cleanliness, etc. in my house, and I thought the process was brief enough and mild enough to do.

03/23/2006, 11:17 AM	#9
StixS Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: bay area Posts: 24	thanks for the response, yea im getting 88 lbs of the pukani rock from reefermadness, so yea probably going to put it in a tub thanks again

03/23/2006, 03:06 PM	#13
StixS Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: bay area Posts: 24	yea its for a new set up, the pieces are real nice dispite the abuse through fedex (box tore and bag was exposed). i decide to put the rocks in a tub and im glad i did, after seeing how big one or 2 of the main pieces were

03/24/2006, 07:01 AM	#14
tygger Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,631	Did you take any pics? __________________ 15g Nano 72g reef + 29g sump/fuge

03/24/2006, 09:19 PM	#15
LittlePuff Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Peoria,IL Posts: 685	I've got uncured rock. Been in the tank for 2 days, no smell. Is something wrong? Kim __________________ 90gal FOWLR (planning) 55gal FOWLR

03/24/2006, 11:17 PM	#16
tygger Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,631	Where did you get it from and how much did you get? __________________ 15g Nano 72g reef + 29g sump/fuge

03/25/2006, 09:11 PM	#17
LittlePuff Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Peoria,IL Posts: 685	Marine Depot 11lbs. for nano tank. Kim __________________ 90gal FOWLR (planning) 55gal FOWLR

03/27/2006, 08:19 AM	#18
tygger Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,631	Don't think there's anything wrong. From what I've read, MD rock (did you get marshall island) comes in pretty clean. Plus, 11lbs isn't that much rock so the smell should be minimal, esp. if you have a skimmer.

03/27/2006, 12:07 PM	#19
justin1977justi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: GA Posts: 119	I also got 11lbs from Marine Depot. I cured it for two weeks and never had any smell at all. I took rocks out and smelled them to see if the small amount of rock and the skimmer were masking the smell, but still nothing. Rock is in tank now and looks great. My levels never changed.

03/27/2006, 09:51 PM	#20
LittlePuff Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Peoria,IL Posts: 685	Good. Thanks! Kim __________________ 90gal FOWLR (planning) 55gal FOWLR

03/27/2006, 10:24 PM	#21
blenny90 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 270	A lot of the die off will depend on how the rock was shipped. If the rock was sent wet - wrapped in wet towels - the die off will be less noticeable. Temperature the rock was submitted to during shipping will also determine the amount of die off. Uncured rock will have an acidic smell to it. Properly cured rock will have very little smell.