HELP! Worms!

[CFS82]

If you are just setting up a new tank I'd simply toss it in and let it cycle. It will probably be a long cycle but the whole point of live rock is the bugs and bacteria that live in it. Let the rock cycle and the corraline will grow in eventually.

If you tank is already running and stocked I'd let it cure in a tub with a powerhead.

Yeah my tank is fine, its under liverocked, but its also tremendously understocked so it works out.

Well heres the thing, this stuff is in really bad shaped. i cleaned the dirt off but its still really dark and wouldnt look nice and thats part of the point for me.
will curing it help it get that light brown color again?

Im just trying to figure out what to do before filling this huge tub with salt water if im just gonna have to bleach it to get what i want and waste the salt.

 

[CFS82]

So I forgot a very important tool!
steel bristle barbeque brush!
took the algae off.
No doubt the rock needs to be recured after the drive and various abuse I have put it through. So it is now sitting in a plastic storage bin with heater and powerhead.

Only problem is this. after about 6 hours the water went from clear to pretty murky.

I cleaned the rock well, should I let it sit in the murky water or change it?

Still new to curing live rock since my only experience was putting it in my tank and waiting 2 months for the tank to cycle.
Im sure this stuff is filled with dead worms that got cut in half that are now rotting.

 

[eclown]

I cleaned out more bristle worm issue with a 6 line wrasse. From what I understand, an arrow crab will do major dammage to bristles.
I have a coral banded shrimp that I think may have been helpful...looks like he's going after them, can't tell.

 

[CFS82]

I cleaned out more bristle worm issue with a 6 line wrasse. From what I understand, an arrow crab will do major dammage to bristles.
I have a coral banded shrimp that I think may have been helpful...looks like he's going after them, can't tell.

Haha great tips, however if you could only see how many worms I had.

if they were edible by porcupine puffers I dont think he could eat them all in two months honestly and if you know how puffs eat!

I feel bad for killing them but honestly if I put them in the tank they would all die because I dont have enough waste to sustain a dozen let alone a thousand.

That and cleaning the rock would have killed them anyway but throwing them in any tank other than an oceanarium would have clouded the water.

 

[CFS82]

oh also about temperature for the live rock. I already ruined 2 old hang on back heaters by taping them to the side of the tub and they got wet.
I dont have a submersible but what is the minimum temperature for the live rock. I mean it exists in the ocean so isnt 69 to 71 ok?

I have one hang on the back left and this time I will make a platform for it to sit out of the water and not just tape it. I was in such a hurry before with work.

 

[CFS82]

Ok, its 5:30 in the morning and im finally done.
Took alot of hard work and I learned a bit, but for 20 bucks I think I came out ahead

Its alot darker in the picture than in real life.

 

[AJSTITAN14]

Once they have been in the DT for 6 months or so they will be covered in pretty purple corraline algae and you will be happy.

 

[CFS82]

I hope so!
There was actually a pretty nice layer of coraline under the muck on most pieces so I am fine with how they look now.

I have to invest in a good light now. I only have one huge cabbage leather so I just have 4 giant t12 daylight bulbs haha.

 

[CFS82]

GRRRRRRR!
I come back to the bucket today and the water is somewhat cloudy!
I scrubbed this rock for hours and rinsed it, its got to be those worms!
Is there anything I can do? I want the rock clean because I dont want to do mass water changes once I put it in my 220 to get clear water.

Is it ok to leave it in somwhat murky water and is there anything I can do to clear up the water?

 

[AJSTITAN14]

You need to let it cure for a few weeks. Just forget about the rock and keep it topped off and do water changes once a week. Once the smell stops you can start testing for Nitrates.

 

[CFS82]

You need to let it cure for a few weeks. Just forget about the rock and keep it topped off and do water changes once a week. Once the smell stops you can start testing for Nitrates.

]

Ok excellent, I wasnt expecting it to be cured in a day, oh no. I just hoped that after scrubbing and rinsing the tub filled with new saltwater wouldnt be cloudy in a day.

So i shouldnt worry about the cloudiness and just let it sit, heated and circulated?

Also I put two handfuls of filter floss into the intake sleeve of the pond powerhead im using. hope it helps.