Dry Rock
- Thread starter msujohn
- Start date
Dry rock does not need to be cured. Just remember that it's dead rock, meaning it has no biological filtering capability and needs to be fully cycled before it is of any use. By adding the 20% live rock from your LFS, you will speed up the cycle, but it still will happen.
Just rinse off the dry rock and it is safe to add to your tank. Add your 20% live rock and then start the cycling.
Just rinse off the dry rock and it is safe to add to your tank. Add your 20% live rock and then start the cycling.
No on marco rinse and Just be patient. I used Marco and its nice looking rock. I added small amount of live rock from LFS. I don't intend to put anything other than a cuc in the next month. It's been up and cycled for a month so far. Around month three I will add my first fish from the qt.
I ordered 75lbs today from BRS. Was told to cure it in saltwater for 4-6 weeks to get the phosphates and such out. Told me, it can be done in a tank, but it won't smell all that good if there's a lot of die off on it.
This makes sense if you're adding dry rock to an existing tank, but in a new, cycling tank with no livestock, I don't see any reason to "cure" it separately. Your cycle is going to take a while anyway and you do a massive water change when it's over.
you clearly haven't met my wife
The smell would bother her, so I'm curing it in saltwater in the garage, at least until the phosphates are reasonable, then do what I need to.
Wryknow
New member
Dry rock will require a full cure. Whether you do it in tank or not is completely up to you, but that's what I'm doing on my newest tank. I used the BRS Pukani and there are a lot of organics that need to be cleaned up - I have been cleaning my skimmer cup every 2 days since I started cycling 4 weeks ago. You should also run carbon for to help with the organics and GFO to help control phosphates during the cycle.
Teenreefer15
New member
it is not necessarily safe just from rinsing it off. I would recommend putting it in a bin with saltwater for a few weeks and doing frequent water changes until your params are stable. Some dry rocks could leak phosphate and maintain an unbalanced pH.
piratevern
New member
I am doing about the same thing.. 29 Gal tank has 25 lbs of "Dead" rock and 10 lbs of Live rock... After 2 days ammonia levels reading 1 ppm.. Should I add a piece of shrimp?? I have read that to start a cycle you want Ammonia at about 2 ppm.. Any help Appreciated!
shaginwagon13
Chartered Accountant
Just for the general knowledge of this thread, Pukani is known to leach A LOT of PO4 for a long time unless treated. That equals lots of algae.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855
whosurcaddie
New member
Please cure your dry rock in bins outside of the tank. Test for phosphate during this process and change the water when phosphate levels elevate. Almost all dry rock has phosphate bound up in it and curing it outside the tank is so much easier to deal with and will save you so much more money.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-07/nftt/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-07/nftt/index.php
