Just received Live Rock. Now what?

[JMorris271]

I just got a shipment of 45 lbs of LR today from LA. It looks ok I guess but don't know. So with all the different versions of what to do I need some advise please. Also I have about have about 80 lbs of DR and another 25 lbs of LR that I think I killed with an ammonia overdose soaking in barrels of SW. It's been soaking for bout 3 months now


I added more ammonia yesterday to these barrels and it tested at 6 ppm.
A 125 gal tank is suppose to be delivered tomorrow or the next day.
I was planning to cure this LR in the DT when it get here. There is nothing in this tank except a bill of sale.
What to do . Any suggestions?
I also do have an empty 40 gal sump sitting fallow.

 

[gone fishin]

I guess I have always taken an overly simplistic approach. Filled the tank and put in the rock and sand. Waited for the cycle to complete and went on my way. Just my 2 cents.

 

[rlm2005]

I guess I have always taken an overly simplistic approach. Filled the tank and put in the rock and sand. Waited for the cycle to complete and went on my way. Just my 2 cents.

That's how I've always done it.

 

[JMorris271]

I guess I have always taken an overly simplistic approach. Filled the tank and put in the rock and sand. Waited for the cycle to complete and went on my way. Just my 2 cents.

Do you do the cure at the same time in the same tank?

 

[gone fishin]

That is how I have done it. When I moved from Connecticut to Wisconsin I brought my rock with me. They sat in a couple of dry tubs for a few months. I rinsed them off with the hose on the deck then put them in the tank when I set it back up.

 

[acabgd]

If it's good live rock and doesn't smell bad, why would you need to cure it?

 

[puck66871]

I am getting ready to cycle my rock and have gone half live and half dry. Hopefully everything works out.

 

[JMorris271]

If it's good live rock and doesn't smell bad, why would you need to cure it?

Because LA said to. That is honestly the reason. It looks and smells fine. Fresh and clean. It is sold as uncured, so I was thinking it needs to be.

 

[Fallling]

Depends... if you are seeing die off and a lot of detritus, then I'd let it continue curing / cycling in the tubs. You don't want to have that collecting in the DT. On the other hand, if it there's not much die off, you can put it in the tank and let it cycle. Either way, I'd mix and mingle that DR with the live rock so bacteria can colonize on it as well.

Pretty much all live rock is going to need to cure at least some (even cured) and shouldn't be put in tank with any livestock. That's why LA says to cure it. Even coming straight from a lfs, I'd still be cautious. Also, I'd be careful about pushing the ammonia up to much more... especially with live rock. Too high ammonia can prolong or even stall the cycle. This especially true with live rock that has life on... you want to preserve some of that life

 

[JMorris271]

Man I am pretty sure I evicted all of the critters in my first order.
My new 125 tank is suppose to be delivered tomorrow or Saturday. I am betting Saturday during the football game, But anyway, the official cycle will begin.