Fishnthecorner
New member
I bought 100lbs of BRS Pukani Dry Eco Aquarium Live Rock. There is a short video on BRS about curing it, but not too much info.
Has anyone here done this?
Has anyone here done this?
Curing Dry Live Rock?
- Thread starter Fishnthecorner
- Start date
NanoReefNoob
New member
I bought 50 pounds of reef saver from BRS and jsut put it into my tank. My cycle has gone on for 5 weeks now and is still going 
so if you think it would help mabey speed up the cycle then i would say that it would not hurt anything.
so if you think it would help mabey speed up the cycle then i would say that it would not hurt anything.After about 8 weeks I gave up on mine, and went and bought cured live rock at my LFS instead. The tank would just not hold PH, and the issue was solved with the new cured rock. I'm still not sure what the issue was.. some here have talked about leeching acid, don't know, but keep an eye on it before spending money on fish.
jt_milstead
New member
When im setting up a tank, I will buy all the sand and rock im going to use. I will put all the sand and rock in a 55 gal drum with about 10-20lbs of sand, and about 20lbs of rock from my tank, and let it run for a couple months. Ive done this a couple times without issue.
rinconmike
Member
I have bought around 100 pounds of pukani (two 50 pound orders) and used around half in my 150 FOWLR.
My tank was established and I had bioballs. I cured the rock for around 2 months in saltwater with a power head and heater. I change the water once or twice.
For the first 50 pounds, I cured it all and then selected around 25 pounds I put in the tank. A couple months later I made a 25 pound piece (silicone many pieces together) from the second 50 pound order and then cured that for around 6 to 8 weeks and then put in the tank.
A couple months after that I added around 4 liters of Seachem pond matrix to my sump and then did a 6 week process of taking out all the bioballs.
So now I have around 50 pounds of the pukani and 4 liters of pond matrix. I am going to add some more live rock to my sump eventually.
I do run a lot of GFO and Rox Carbon. I have high phosphates and not sure if it is leaching from the rock or just all the feeding.
Other than that, I do not think I have issues with it.
Note the rock was very dirty (dry it looks clean) and curing it in a 55 gallon can and rinsing and changing water once or twice during the process did clean a lot off of it.
Mike
My tank was established and I had bioballs. I cured the rock for around 2 months in saltwater with a power head and heater. I change the water once or twice.
For the first 50 pounds, I cured it all and then selected around 25 pounds I put in the tank. A couple months later I made a 25 pound piece (silicone many pieces together) from the second 50 pound order and then cured that for around 6 to 8 weeks and then put in the tank.
A couple months after that I added around 4 liters of Seachem pond matrix to my sump and then did a 6 week process of taking out all the bioballs.
So now I have around 50 pounds of the pukani and 4 liters of pond matrix. I am going to add some more live rock to my sump eventually.
I do run a lot of GFO and Rox Carbon. I have high phosphates and not sure if it is leaching from the rock or just all the feeding.
Other than that, I do not think I have issues with it.
Note the rock was very dirty (dry it looks clean) and curing it in a 55 gallon can and rinsing and changing water once or twice during the process did clean a lot off of it.
Mike
jarrod13
New member
I ordered some of the BRS reef saver Eco rock and from what I've read so far because it is mined from dry land it doesn't have any phosphates. I'm going to be putting it in the new tank with live sand and other live rock from another tank with no lights for about a month probably. I think that should do it
rinconmike
Member
I read that about the reef saver too. You may still want to clean it first. The pukani is different and does come from the water and had dead crabs and stuff on it. It was dirty too and I am glad I cleaned it first. For the eco saver, I would assume it could use a cleaning too. A lot easier to do before you put it in the tank.
Fishnthecorner
New member
I've Been curing the rock in a separate tank for a week now. I put some fish food in there... Water is perfectly clear now, with no ammonia spike.
1. When should the ammonia be present?
2. Should I be using a protein skimmer
3. Should I add a "live rock" from my existing fish tank?
1. When should the ammonia be present?
2. Should I be using a protein skimmer
3. Should I add a "live rock" from my existing fish tank?
rinconmike
Member
for the pukani rock i got from BRS, i just pout the rock in salt water, a heater, and power head and had ammonia in a few days. I did not add any food since there was dead stuff on the rock already.
Ammonia went down to zero a few weeks later.
I let it sit for around 6 to 8 weeks before putting in my tanks. I rinsed it once or twice in the period as well as changing the water.
Mike
Ammonia went down to zero a few weeks later.
I let it sit for around 6 to 8 weeks before putting in my tanks. I rinsed it once or twice in the period as well as changing the water.
Mike
stiltman
Active member
Whatever you do, I would def. Go slow. There are tons of threads talking about how much the pukani dry rock has lots of phosphates for months into the curing process. That's why mine is sitting in a brute garbage can with a powerhead for the next few months.
Eco are supposed to be different, but you never now what it's going to do. I'd let it sit in your other tank for a while until everything tests ok, then let it sit a few more weeks after that.
You can also search "Eco rocks" to see what other threads are out there.
Eco are supposed to be different, but you never now what it's going to do. I'd let it sit in your other tank for a while until everything tests ok, then let it sit a few more weeks after that.
You can also search "Eco rocks" to see what other threads are out there.
Fishnthecorner
New member
Never mind on the ammonia, I must have not tested it right... I just re-tested it, and I got 2.0-4.0 Ammonia... This is good, right?
Temp is 81 degrees. I am curing in a 75 gallon AGA.
Temp is 81 degrees. I am curing in a 75 gallon AGA.
Fishnthecorner
New member
Ammonia now at 0.25 (after 2 weeks) Does this mean it's almost cycled, and ready?
You are getting close. Keep waiting Not your nitrite and nitrates will start rising. If you can feed the rock some kind of food.
I took 50 lbs of rock in a trash can. Put my old water from my tank in there. with heater and pump to cycle it. If I did a water change on the display tank, I would do one on the rock that is cycling. Take water out of trashcan then dispose of. Take water out of display and place into trashcan with rock. Did that for about 2 months as phosphates were really high. I would also feed the rock as if there was fish in there to help give it a little extra to break down. This trash can also contained about 10lbs of cured really purple Live rock with lots of pods and micro brittle stars as well as other life.
I took 50 lbs of rock in a trash can. Put my old water from my tank in there. with heater and pump to cycle it. If I did a water change on the display tank, I would do one on the rock that is cycling. Take water out of trashcan then dispose of. Take water out of display and place into trashcan with rock. Did that for about 2 months as phosphates were really high. I would also feed the rock as if there was fish in there to help give it a little extra to break down. This trash can also contained about 10lbs of cured really purple Live rock with lots of pods and micro brittle stars as well as other life.
Fishnthecorner
New member
Oh, Here'a pic of my set-up. I have it in a 75g with a small filter, heater, and Powerhead. And I have a damsel in there as well...
Fishnthecorner
New member
Ok, I just tested for Nitrate and Nitrites:
Nitrate is 5.0-10.0 (Hardly any)
Nitrite is 5.0 (off the charts...)!
Good?
Nitrite in my display tank is 0ppm
Nitrate is 5.0-10.0 (Hardly any)
Nitrite is 5.0 (off the charts...)!
Good?
Nitrite in my display tank is 0ppm
Fishnthecorner
New member
Wow. Just tested: Ammonia 0.0; Nitrate 0.0; Nitrite 0.05. After 3 weeks...
Looks like it's near ready!
Looks like it's near ready!
Fishnthecorner
New member
All is 0.0 except Phosphate, which is 2.0 (same as my DT)
