"Cured" live rock? Don't be so sure!!!

[gwoodbridge]

Word of warning to my fellow newbies: I purchased additional live rock from a reputable store through their website. The rock was advertised as "cured Fiji Live Rock". I must say that everything they advertised about the rock is true...it arrived in a very timely fashion, with it's wrapping still damp, and with plenty of corraline algae ready to go. I know it will be beautiful.

Just to be safe, however, I placed it in a 20 gallon bin with salt water, a heater, protein skimmer and a powerhead.

Then I watched this already "cured" live rock start to cycle! Ammonia levels shot up, followed by nitrites and finally nitrates...did water changes, the whole bit.

Needless to say, I'm so happy that I didn't just throw it into my exisiting tank trusting it was cured...or that it didn't need to be cured again!

I'm happy to say that I've added it little by little to my tank with no spikes anywhere.

I did have to give away one damsel fish that had been nipping the fins of another damsel and my two clowns, but otherwise, things continue to go well.

Oh, and LOVE my new Aqua-C Remora Protein Skimmer...thanks for the advice.

Just some updates...

 

[Anonymous]

ANytime you remove rocks from the water you will have some die-off.

To expect rock to have no die off after shipping is wishfull at best.

I expect that your cycle would have been much more pronounced with "uncured" rock.

Thanks for posting!

 

[paneubert]

Yeah, I am pretty sure if you shipped a "cured" yellow tang, it would also be pretty smelly :wink:
Just kidding, just kiding.
The "no cycle" thing would only apply if you bought cured rock from a LFS, put it in a bucket of their salt water, and then took it right from their store and placed it in your tank within a short time.