Well I orderd some "cured" fiji rock cheaply and well you get what you payed for. Anyway, the rock had a lot of die off and since I didn't see I just put it in my tank. Is it normal for the rock's critters (ex. Sponges, worms, coral) to just go all fuzzy and white then just turn black? Like if its just rotting away. Which it probable is. The corraline algea is beginning to turn white but most of it is keeping its color. This set up is new and I am a complete newbie and probable always will be. I' still learning so please don't flame when I said I don't have something. I have a 2" sand bed of just sand from the beach that I made sure was clean (its not live). A berlin air lift skimmer (60). A Maxi-jet 900, a good heater, and sadly a 250 watt work light that over heats the tank and is horrible yellow. I do need to change some water since my salt is a little high but I don't know what else is going on. So basicly, whats happening to the rock when its curing? When do I know the rock has cured? By the way its 15 pounds in my 20H.
Curing live rock
- Thread starter The_Mutt
- Start date
kau_cinta_ku
New member
if you had to have it shipped then there would be die off unless shipped in water. the reason most places say it's cured is because it is cured at their place but when it gets shipped it isn't cured anymore.
but yes what is happining is very normal. just keep monerting your ammonia and nitrites until they read 0 then you will have some nitrates, do a water change and get those down and wait another week or more and test again. if still all 0 you can start to add your cleanup crew
but yes what is happining is very normal. just keep monerting your ammonia and nitrites until they read 0 then you will have some nitrates, do a water change and get those down and wait another week or more and test again. if still all 0 you can start to add your cleanup crew
Well, I'm new to the hobby too. When you buy cured rock, there will be die off from the shipping process. IMO, your better off getting uncured rock for that reason and its cheaper.
I believe when the critters turn black, they are dead or dying. But, there will most likely be live critters still on your rock.
I do believe using beach sand will pose problems in the future(from pollution), or so I've read.
I believe when the critters turn black, they are dead or dying. But, there will most likely be live critters still on your rock.
I do believe using beach sand will pose problems in the future(from pollution), or so I've read.
I am new to the hobby and I am curing my second badge of live rock.
I thing getting live rock is the hardest thing, just because there is a lot of things dieing. The best thing to do is patently wait a couple of weeks until you tank as cycled, check your levels SG mostly, and have good water circulation.
I think that should do it
You can see pics of my rocks here:
http://www.theredblender.com/fish.html
I thing getting live rock is the hardest thing, just because there is a lot of things dieing. The best thing to do is patently wait a couple of weeks until you tank as cycled, check your levels SG mostly, and have good water circulation.
I think that should do it
You can see pics of my rocks here:
http://www.theredblender.com/fish.html
firefish44
New member
I'm going to tag along here....I'm also ready to start a new 75g RR with 30g sump. Everything is ready for substrate and LR. I plan to cure the LR in the tank to cycle it. My question is do I put in my substrate (Southdown sand 1 to 1.5 deep" in tank, 4-5" deep in fuge for DSB) BEFORE i place the LR and cure it,... Or Cure the rock 1st in a bare bottom tank, remove it, add the substrate the now cured rock?
firefish44
New member
OK, that was my first thought too, but part of me was thinking that it would help "seed" the sand at the same time, but your right about cleaning up the decay. What about the fuge DSB? Wait on that too and just seed it with some live sand once the rock is cured? Thanks for the help!
kurt72
New member
make sure you ALWAYS check for dead/soft stuff on the rock when it is cycling. say, everytime you change the water, you will propably have to clean off the rock. the way to tell if that "stuff" you are looking at is dead is to smell it. 
and as far as die off goes, i bought some LR online from a place just 2-2 1/2 hours away by car. between the time it took for them to ship it, to the time it arrived at my door, 12 hrs. so 12 hrs out of the water and there was still a LOT of dieoff. i should have just driven to place and kept it contained in water. next time.
and as far as die off goes, i bought some LR online from a place just 2-2 1/2 hours away by car. between the time it took for them to ship it, to the time it arrived at my door, 12 hrs. so 12 hrs out of the water and there was still a LOT of dieoff. i should have just driven to place and kept it contained in water. next time.
