How long do you cure dry rock?

[acuario]

I have had some dry rock soaking in 78-degree saltwater to help cure it for ten days now. Both Day 8 and Day 10 ammonia tests are at 1.0 ppm and nitrates at 0 ppm. Is the rock cured and ready? Can I fill my new tank? If it isn't ready, what should I wait for, or check for?

 

[Isaacs55]

I have had some dry rock soaking in 78-degree saltwater to help cure it for ten days now. Both Day 8 and Day 10 ammonia tests are at 1.0 ppm and nitrates at 0 ppm. Is the rock cured and ready? Can I fill my new tank? If it isn't ready, what should I wait for, or check for?

Keep curing it until ammonia reaches 2ppm and then nitrites have to reach 2ppm your not looking for nitrates. You don't need to worry about nitrates until the cycle is done.

 

[thegrun]

The important thing now is for the ammonia and nitrites (you will start to see your nitrite level rise when the ammonia starts to drop) to both drop to zero. Once that happens the rock has cycled and you can start to add livestock. You could complete the cycle by moving all the rock and saltwater into your aquarium or let the cycle finish in whatever container you now have the rock and then transfer it when the cycle is complete.

 

[Isaacs55]

Yup you are headed in the right direction. Like Thegrun said, you can add it to your tank now or just wait till its finished.

 

[acuario]

thank you all for you kind help

 

[tazdvl]

Ok I'm confused. You said Dry Rock as in been dry for awhile no life on or in? if that is the case I'm not sure where ammonia would come from. Are you ghost feeding this rock?

 

[undbulsu]

My understanding with dry rock is phosphate is the problem

My understanding with dry rock is phosphate is the problem

That's why people go through the trouble of acid washing, curing with lanthanum chloride, bleach soaks, etc.