curing done?

[cinnamongirl]

I purchased 25 lbs of LR from Live Aquaria, that was partially cured to add to my display. It's been curing in a rubbermaid tank for about 3 weeks with a heater and a powerhead. I change part of the water ever week, and scrub the rock with a brush. I "think" it's cured. I tested the water today before doing another change, and both the ammonia and nitrates are zero.

Does this mean it's cured and safe to add to my display?

I am going to just put it in my sump for now, because I'm not quite ready to aquascape, but I don't want to put it in there if it's not ready. Should I add it one piece at a time over a few weeks?

 

[Radiography14]

yes it should be ok to put in at this time.

 

[TekCat]

you said, that your ammonia and nitrates are zero, but what about nitrites? If they are zero too, then go ahead, and put all of them in at once.

 

[Sindjin]

Do you run a sandbed? If so, I would wait another three weeks or so... My rock is 3 months old and still shedding. I'd hate to see detritus go into the bed if it could be avoided. Also, Id remove the rock a few times a week and do the old Dunk -n- Swish in a seperate bucket of salt water.

 

[cinnamongirl]

Yes, I have a DSB, so I will wait. There's still some soft black stuff on the rock that just wont scrub off with a brush, so I'm not sure what that is.

I will check nitrates, but I've found that if Ammonia and Nitrate are both 0, it's past a cycle and nitrates won't be there. Is this the case with others?

I am not quite prepared to re-aquascape, so I'll start placing them in the sump one per week, after a final scrubbing, that is.

Thanks!

 

[Sindjin]

It sounds like it would be best to wait.
IMO, there is a difference between CYCLED Live Rock and CURED Live Rock. You can cycle it in a few weeks, but curing takes 3 to 4 months.

My live rock is finally slowed down on the shedding so Im not siphoning as much. Im running a BB so its easy to siphon off the bottom. Im running a Filter Sock as well which helps a TON!

Good Luck!