Curing Live Rock

[XPC22393]

I'm curing some live rock in a separate tank and was wondering on the procedures.
1. Should I be changing the water, and if so is that 100% changes?
2. Should I rinse the rock to get any ammonia and dead stuff off it? (already did twice but we've been using the hose ):hmm6:
3. It's been 2.5 weeks, 2 total water changes, and the ammonia is still at like 4.0ppm.
4. If I had gone with TBS like I was thinking (and am going to top with) would this have been entirely avoided?
5. and is there anything specific I should try to rinse/scrub off?

 

[HowardW]

What type of rock is it, and under what conditions are you curing it?

 

[XPC22393]

Caribbean Premium, ~78-80 Degrees, 40W Acintic, Plastic Tub

 

[HowardW]

General guidelines for curing dry shipped mostly dead rock...

Upon arrival you should put the rocks in a tub of saltwater and using a soft toothbrush gently scrub off any dead sponges, white film, dead plant material, etc. and the shake the rocks off in this water. They should then be put in fresh saltwater in your curing tank/tub and with good circulation, very minimal lighting, and a good protein skimmer, and some guys also run carbon to help with organics. Check the ammonia every few days and when it starts to climb you can do a 100% water change up to several times a week, and keeping an eye on the rocks and again removing any white film and any dead organic material. If you keep up on water changes, good circulation and skimming it should fully cure (0 PPM ammonia) in 2-3 weeks usually depending on temp/salinity/etc. Also never rinse any live rock with freshwater.

 

[Untamed12]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137219#post11137219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
General guidelines for curing dry shipped mostly dead rock...

Ha..ha..I loved that one. Subtle, helpful, and yet appropriate for the TBS discussion area.

 

[XPC22393]

Thanks a lot This helped and I got the rock set up pretty fast. Still wish I had gone with the TBS though >.<