Curing BRS dry rock...

[Charley Diesing]

Alrighty so I got 50 pounds of dry rock, from BRS. The tank isn't 100% complete but its getting there. I'd like to put the rock in the tank in about a month. With dry rock, do you use plain RO/DI water? Or do I make a batch of saltwater and let it soak in there? Also if possible could I cure the dry rock in my aquarium? That would be the best solution...

thanks alot,

Charley

 

[jbonez]

you can cure it in the aquarium only if thertes NO live stock brs dry rock take about a month to cure seed it with real live rock..

 

[Charley Diesing]

Alrighty. So just the rock, RO/DI water+salt, heater, no sand, what about skimming?

 

[jbonez]

yes if you have one...

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yep, in saltwater. I've had my BRS eco-saver rock cycling in a rubbermaid tub with about 5 pound of LR, a heater and a powerhead for a couple of months now.

 

[jerpa]

Just to clarify you need to add some live rock, or sand, to seed the dry rock. You will also want to put a powerhead in the bucket for flow.

 

[Bnortz]

Looking to do the same thing with the BRS reef saver rock I got. I'm going to do what has been previously stated. Cure it in a Rubbermaid tub filled with SW, a piece of LR, heater powerhead, etc.

How long does it usually take for it to be ready to go? and what should we test for?

 

[aleonn]

I cured BRS dry rocks for 2 months in a Brute container with RO/DI saltwater mix, one LR piece, heater, and Maxi-Jet 1200 powerhead. Every few days I fed the rocks some flake/pellet food as well. By the time these rocks hit the DT, there was no cycle or phosphate issues.

 

[Charley Diesing]

So I guess Brute container is the way to go? So Curing in my aquarium itself isn't a good idea I'm guessing?

 

[Zappo]

Curing in your aquarium is a great idea. When people talk about curing their live rock and cycling their tank, they're talking about the same thing. Populating the rock with bacteria. Give the rock a good rinse, toss it in the tank, and you'll be ready to get started.

 

[Charley Diesing]

Alright awsome. Soo should I add sand as well? Or wait till everything's cured? Also I plan on adding the skimmer in about a week. Is it alright the curing started now? Or should I wait till the skimmer comes in to start the curing?

 

[Zappo]

Add everything (after rinsing well in fresh water to remove dust/dirt) that you want to have bacteria grow on. I personally don't skim while cycling, but others do. It's up to you.

 

[jbonez]

add what ever you want except live stock or corals. wait until everything is cycled and cured. it could take up to 8 weeks to fully clyce and cure. good luck my friend

 

[Charley Diesing]

Alrighty awesome guys. Thanks alot.

One last question.

The tank is a 40 Gallon BR. And I'm using a 150 watt metal halide lamp. Should I run the light while I'm curing?

 

[aleonn]

I wouldn't run light while curing/cycling, unless you had some LR pieces with coralline algae and desireable photosynthetic life. Light would otherwise fuel algae/cyano during the cycling process.

 

[567234ta]

I would let it cycle on its own with lights out for a week at 85°F, do a water change then add the LR

 

[zigzag1]

Just FYI, the dead, but previously live rock will leach tons of phosphates. You will want to leach the phosphates to avoid phosphate and algae problems, or even acid dip then leach. This happens a lots of death and partail decay has recently occured within the rock.

The 'reef-saver' or 'eco-saver' or whatever you call it, (basically mined from dry land) live rock that was not from a reef recently, does NOT leach lots of phosphate like the recently live, IME. Just another big advantage of going with mined live rock.

JMTC & GL!

 

[windyridge]

Go to the BRS site where they have a video specific to the eco saver rock where they say exactly what to do. I just got some and am doing what they recommend. If you have the ecosaver rock there is NO phophate. The video mentions that.

 

[Charley Diesing]

Alright! So I put my 50 pounds of Fiji dry rock in a Rubbermaid container with two tunze power-heads, Mag 5 pump, and a heater.

I'm going to add about 3-5 pounds of live-rock this weekend...

Salinity-1.023
Temp-83 F

Questions:

Are these good?

Also I have a lot of water flow? Is that alright?

My main question is... Once the curing is done; and I throw it in my tank with fresh saltwater and sand, is the cycle done? Can I add fish? Or do I go through yet another cycle?

Thanks a lot!

-Charley

 

[bereleah]

Isn't curing and cycling two different things? Also is water changes necessary while curing or cycling???