Curing Live Rock

[trc]

As I read all of the threads on curing live rock, I have a begginers question.

If you are just setting up a new tank, can you cure the live rock in the tank for a while until your readings are right?

 

[MartinE]

Yes you can cure your rock in your tank until your readings are right, I would not add sand or anything until tests are right. Bare bottom is easier at this stage for syphoning stuff that dies off. The main reason people do not cure rock in the tank is the smell that the die off sometimes makes.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, but no livestock while curing.
I'd still wait at least a few months after the readings are right before adding sensitive inhabitants.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[trc]

Thanks for the info, if that's the case I suppose I can buy on line. I've read all about the different types of LR, do you have any suggestions on whom to buy from and what types?

 

[cjsrch]

tampabaysaltwater anything else and your basicaly buying slimy rock

anyways. if the rock you have is kinda bare ( and you dont mind killing a few things) raise the temp of the tank to 82 degrees to speed up the cycle and cure it faster

 

[ChrisRD]

tampabaysaltwater anything else and your basicaly buying slimy rock

I prefer live rock from the Pacific. I've had several batches over the years and they've all been good. Lots of pods, worms, snails, sponges, corallines, etc. I prefer the Pacific types over the aquacultured stuff from the Gulf (like TB's stuff) because they're generally less dense and less likely to have pest hitchhikers (ex. mantis shrimp).

Premium Aquatics is a reputable vendor that sells several different types of Pacific rock. For those interested in the aquacultured stuff from the Gulf of Mexico, TB is certainly not the only choice. Gulf-View seems to have a good reputation for example.

anyways. if the rock you have is kinda bare ( and you dont mind killing a few things) raise the temp of the tank to 82 degrees to speed up the cycle and cure it faster

Raising the tank temp a few degrees isn't going to significantly speed the curing process IMO. My recommendation is strong circulation, heavy protein skimming, water changes (if necessary) and suffient time. Don't try to rush things.

 

[cjsrch]

raising it to 82 degrees speeds up the biological process.
considering my tanks temp was resting at 72 if i had no heater. but this was when i first started and didnt have high intensity lighting heating the tank
cycle still took a few weeks and expect yours to take the same or longer if the tnak is "cold"

and once your cycle is done. stock very slowly since the tank has to recycle for every new fish as well as the denitrifieing bactiria usualy take atleast a month to get established.

 

[ChrisRD]

I think most people cure rock at whatever temp they're planning to maintain the tank. That's the most logical approach IMO. Overall I don't think it's critical as long as you're somewhere in the normal range of reef tank temps.

I agree with the idea of stocking slowly, although I think it's a bit misleading to say that the tank is "recycling" with the addition of each new fish. This implies that there will be a cyclical rise and fall of ammonia, nitrite and possibly nitrate whenever something is added to the system and this should not be happening - at least not on a scale that can be measured with hobby grade test kits. The idea of adding livestock slowly is to avoid this very thing. If the rock is cured and the system has stabilized, bacterial populations should be able to increase quickly enough to meet a small increase in bioload without seeing any significant spikes.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested to hear a biologist's opinion on the idea of cycling at a higher temperature, but I have a feeling Chris is right to suggest you cycle at the temperature you intend to keep your livestock.