Cooking Base Rock?

[NoSchwag]

You'll know there is nothing in it when you dunk and swish after it being in the dark for a week..

Make sure to throw a dead shrimp in there or something to get the process started.

 

[Bomber]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6281664#post6281664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dead beat reef
The Reef Tank Onwers Manual by John H Tullock. Goes into
great detail about cooking rock and to this day this manual
still helps me in my day to day reef maint. Copyright 1990.

I know, and it's much older than that too. Ever wonder how it got the name "cooking"?

When you cook mash to make moonshine, it forms a foamy brown gunk on the surface. Cooking rock looks just like that.

 

[Teremei]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6289308#post6289308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NoSchwag
You'll know there is nothing in it when you dunk and swish after it being in the dark for a week..

Make sure to throw a dead shrimp in there or something to get the process started.

Ok I'll do, how many weeks will it take before the rocks begin to release the phosphates? What do ya think?

 

[trmiv]

I've decided to not "cook" my base rock (30 pounds of reeferock, and 60 pounds of hirocks "best"). Although likely a good idea, I simply could not think of a good way to accomplish it logistically, since I live in a small, third floor apartment. This process is rather space intensive, unfortunately. I did soak my reeferrocks for almost two months in the dark, but without bacteria to start the process, and no "dunk/swish" I really didn't accomplish much besides getting the dust off.

 

[Teremei]

if I didn't "cook" my reeferrocks, and let them cycle with the new tank, how "bad" would it actually be? What kind of effects will it have on the sand and how many water changes and syphoning before it was back to normal?

 

[Sindjin]

You will get a lot of stuff out of them. I had my ReeferRock Base Rock in my tub for 3 weeks and there was a lot of crap. Id cook '
em. It will be a lot shorter than if it was Live Rock.

 

[Teremei]

How many different tubs should I use sindjin? I can do it for about a month since I'm waiting for my tank to setup. Could I just use one tub and syphon all the gunk from the bottom and just do water changes in 1 tub?

 

[Sindjin]

One tub should do it. I used a 44gallon BRUTE Trash Can.
I just wishe I would have cooked my LIve Rock, too. I cured my Live Rock in the tank.... what a mess. It taught me a valuable lesson on patience in this hobby.

 

[Teremei]

If you use just one trash can how do you dunk and swish with all those other rocks piled up in it?

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6389494#post6389494 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Teremei
If you use just one trash can how do you dunk and swish with all those other rocks piled up in it?

If you have 2 tubs, cans, what ever it will only be that much easier as one will be full of rock (base and/or live) along with SW... If you have a second container then you can dunk and swish as you are removing it from the primary container and placing it into the secondary that you can already have fresh SW mixed in... Then drain the primary container and wait until you need to do it again...

 

[Teremei]

Ah makes sense. Thanks! Looks like I'll be doing this with 2 cans then. I should be ok with just a good pump right? No heater needed?

Oh and BTW where is the best place to dispose of all this saltwater?

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6390711#post6390711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Teremei
Ah makes sense. Thanks! Looks like I'll be doing this with 2 cans then. I should be ok with just a good pump right? No heater needed?

Oh and BTW where is the best place to dispose of all this saltwater?

What kind of pump are you thinking of ?? As for the heater that would depend on where you are going to be placing the cans... I have my tubs in my finished basement and a tarp over them... With the RIO I have in the tank and the tarp the temp stays high enough that I don't need a heater...

 

[Teremei]

They'll be in the basement the temp down here is usually around 68-70. Is that too cold? I mean how cold is too cold for cooking rock?

I'm going to use a maxijet 1200.

If I get a rubbermaid can, do I need to prep it with vinegar or anything like that?

I'm just going to start with cooking the base rock first. After I get those in my new tank, I will be selecting a few of my favorite live rock from my 55 and cooking those. I do have one that has 2 thin worms living in it I'm sure they don't need light but I'd be concerned what temp should be ok for them.

 

[REEF-DADDY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6390716#post6390716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Teremei
They'll be in the basement the temp down here is usually around 68-70. Is that too cold? I mean how cold is too cold for cooking rock?

I'm going to use a maxijet 1200.

If I get a rubbermaid can, do I need to prep it with vinegar or anything like that?

I'm just going to start with cooking the base rock first. After I get those in my new tank, I will be selecting a few of my favorite live rock from my 55 and cooking those. I do have one that has 2 thin worms living in it I'm sure they don't need light but I'd be concerned what temp should be ok for them.

I cooked mine at about 70 degrees. I just hosed my containers down. I would add a little ammonia to mix as well. It will start to seed your rocks and give you a source of N so you can get your P down.

 

[Teremei]

Alright my reeferrock base rock is arriving tommorow. I have a large 55g rubermaid tub. I'm gonna mix some salt at about 1.20 SG and put a maxijet in there. My ONLY concern with these reeferrocks is to release the phosphates as Bomber said.

Can I just add a frozen shrimp from the grocery store to start the cycle? If so how long should I let it rot in there?

Thank you.

 

[SeanT]

I hope that is 1.020
Do you currently have a tank running?
If so, just add little piece of rubble laying about.
If not the shrimp will work.

 

[SeanT]

Just in case...


Here is the process.

Originally posted by SeanT
The purpose of "cooking" your rocks is to have the bacteria consume all (or as much) organic material and PO4 stored on, and in, the rock as possible.

The first step to this is commitment.
You have to be willing to remove your rock from the tank.
It doesn't have to be all at once, but I feel if you are going to do this do it all. In stages if that is easier but make sure that all of it gets done.

The new environment you are creating for your rock is to take it from an algal driven to a bacterial driven system.
In order to do this, the rock needs to be in total darkness to retard and eventually kill the algae's on the rock and to give the bacteria time to do the job.

So basically you need tubs to hold the rock.

Equipment needed.
1. Dedication.
2. Tubs to cook rock in. And an equal amount of tubs to hold the rock during waterchanges.
3. A few powerheads.
4. Plenty of buckets.
5. A smug feeling of superiority that you are taking it to "the next level."
6. Saltwater, enough made up to follow the instructions below and to replenish your tank after removing rocks.
Here are the steps:

1. Get into your head and accept the fact you will be making lots of salt water if you aren't lucky enough to have access to filtered NSW.
2. Explain to significant other what is going on so they don't flip out. This process can take up to 2 months. Prepare them in advance so he/she can mark it on the calendar and that they won't nag about it until that date arrives.
3. Setup a tub(s) where the rock is to be cooked. Garages are great for this.
4. Make up enough water to fill tub(s) about halfway and around 5-7 buckets about 60% full.
5. Remove all the rock you want to cook at this stage. (The rock can be removed piece by piece until you are done.) I suggest shutting off the circulation beforehand to minimize dust storms.
6. Take the first piece of rock and dunk it, swish it, very, very well in the first bucket. Then do it again in the 2nd bucket, then the third.
7. Place rock in the tub.
8. Repeat steps 6 & 7 to every piece of rock you want to cook at this time. The reason I suggested 5-7 buckets of water will be evident quickly...as the water quickly turns brown.
9. Place powerhead(s) in the tub and plug in. Position at least one powerhead so that it agitates the surface of the water pretty well. This is to keep the water oxygenated. You can use an air pump for additional oxygenation if you wish. Only one powerhead per tub is needed. Remember the powerheads main responsibility is the oxygenation of the water.
10. Cover the tub. Remember, we want TOTAL darkness.
11. Empty out buckets, restart circulation on main tank.
12. Wait.
13. During the first couple of weeks it is recommended to do a swishing and dunking of the rocks twice a week.
What this entails is to make up enough water to fill up those buckets and the tub the rock is in.
First, lay out your empty tub(s) and fill buckets the same as before.
Then, uncover tub with the rock in it. Take a rock and swish it in the tub it's in to knock any easy to get off junk.
Then, swish it thru the 3 buckets again, and place in the empty tub..
Repeat for all your rocks.
Then empty the tub that all the rocks were cooking in, take it outside and rinse it out with a hose.
Place tub back where it was, fill with new saltwater, add rocks and powerheads, and cover.
Wait again until the next water change.
You will be utterly amazed at how much sand, silt, detritus is at the bottom of the tub and every bucket. It is amazing.
At times the stench was so strong I gagged.

How it works:

Some FAQ's.
When re-introducing the rock to my tank, a month or two from now, should I do that in parts to help minimize any cycling effect(s)...if there are any?
I never have. Really after a very short while, the ammonium cycle has been established. That's not what you're worry about though, it's the stored phosphates and that you have to wait it out.
When they are producing very little detritus - you'll know - then I would use them all at once.

Would running Carbon filtration and/or a PO4 reducing media help/hurry/hinder the process?
I wouldn't fool with it. You don't want the detritus to sit there long enough to rot, release water soluble P again. You want to take it out while it's still locked up in that bacterial detritus.

I would say that 85% of my exposed rock had Bryopsis (hair algae) covering it.
There isn't a single visible strand on any rocks my tank now.
Remember, the key is patience. Let this process run its course.

And a few last minute tidbits I remembered.
Your coralline will die back, recede etc.
My thoughts on this are GREAT!
Now my rock is more porous for additional pods, mysids, worms etc.
Coralline will grow back.
Throughout this process the sponges, and pods on my rock have not died off.
Every time I do a water change they are there and plentiful.

Taken from the "How to go Barebottom thread."

But remember, you do not need to run a barebottom tank to benefit from rock "cooking".

hth,
Sean

 

[Teremei]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6480083#post6480083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT
I hope that is 1.020
Do you currently have a tank running?
If so, just add little piece of rubble laying about.
If not the shrimp will work.

Yes I have a 55 with fuge. So I can just take some of my live rock rubble? I'll go ahead and do that and review those steps again.

just incase it's not covered there, I should look for Amonia, and the nitrate to tell that the rock rubble successfully kicked off the cycle correct? Boy this is gonna be fun. Heheh. Oh BTW I am going to be using just one tub. It is 55 gallons so I should have plenty of room for some swishing then sucking up any ditritus. MOST of the rock I'm "cooking" is just base rock anyway. I might cook about 20# of actual live rock at most.

Aright thanks for all the help!! If you see a problem with my plan just hit me up with a response.

 

[Teremei]

UPDATE::

For anyone who missed it I am "cooking" reeferrock base rock, 60 pounds.

I have one tub filled halfway with SW and the 60# of baserock are in there. I put 3 smallish/medium sized rock rubble to start the cycle (is this enough?) to begin seeding the base rock to get it to release it's P04.

I can't beleive all the white sandy soot that's already on the bottom that came off the baserock in just one day (without swooshing), this stuff would be in my main tank!! Anyway I decided to get another tub that way I can move the rock and then easily dump out all the soot from the 1st tub.

But I have an important question. Since the purpose of THIS cooking (I'll be cooking live rock later) is just to remove gunk and get these base rocks to release P04, I don't want to move them to brand new water because that water won't be cycled and I don't want to do that until they release their P04 right? So help me out here, how should I remove this silt or should I just ignore it and concentrate on getting this base rock to release the P04?

 

[SeanT]

Reread the "cooking" process 3 replies up.