Prepping Marco Rocks

[jakaufman]

I am buying some base rock from Marco Rocks and know that there will be a cycle due to the dead rock having organic material on it. I don't have much space or a garage to set up a cooking station and would only have either my porch outside or my laundry room to use.

I plan on drilling and setting up pillars with the rock as well and would like to do that dry.

What is my best option to minimize the smell as well as have some clean rock to put into my tank?

Here is what I was thinking so far:
1. set up the pillars and put them right into my tank, letting the entire thing cycle in the tank (its a new tank so no worry of killing anything in there) - will the smell in my living room be as bad as I think it could be?

2. cook the rock outside -- I think this sounds good but will the temperatures be an issue?

3. cook the rock in my laundry room -- this has the advantage of the container being closed as opposed to an open tank, plus a door to keep the smell in there, although the ventilation is horrible and I may be better off in the living room to clear the smell.



Just looking for some advice on how best to go about this process.. and avoid making my entire place smell like death!

Thanks,
Joe

 

[osprey3883]

Hey Joe,
I went the cycle in the tank route on my 125 with my marco rocks.
In my case the tank never got smelly, but I did have a skimmer running from day one.

Matt

 

[Electrobes]

I am culturing the rocks in a bin with actinics on top of the stand (Have to build my tank). Going to give it a month as well as the sand. I did dunk the heck out of the rocks before starting the culturing.

 

[SeanT]

I would "cook" the rock outside for sure.
The temperature swings will not be an issue for bacteria.