Question
- Thread starter Nakie31
- Start date
Reef Frog
New member
If you've already added living animals to the tank I would cure the new dry rock thoroughly outside the tank. I'd test for a new cycle after new rock introduction for a few weeks and be ready to add Prime or similar product to detoxify ammonia if necessary. If the new rock is t clean I'd address that first before curing.
Remy LeBeau
New member
How big is your tank? How long has it been cycled for? If you add small pieces of rock at separate intervals the tank might be able to just process the extra bio load. Not so much from the dead rock which might leach out phospahtes, but from the dead or dying organic matter on the live rock. Just make sure to give the live rock a good whiff before you purchase it. If it smells rotten or foul in any way, find another rock.
billdogg
Well-known member
What I do when I need to add new (dry) rock to one of my systems is this: Rinse it well in the utility sink and check for old dead stuff. If it looks to be free of stuff that might decay, I give it a good shake to get most of the tap water off it and toss it in the tank. If it was previously in another tank, I will soak it for a couple days and then check to see if it is leeching any PO4. If not, another quick rinse in the utility sink and in it goes. If it is leeching PO4, then it should be cured in a separate container (a rubbermaid trashcan works well) or even given a short soak in a muriatic acid solution (OUTSIDE, someplace safe) to get rid of the surface layer (where most of the PO4 is) and to open the pores of the rock. Neutralize it with baking soda and then cure for a couple days. Check again for PO4 and go from there.
The bottom line is this - if it is clean rock, there will be no cycle because of it. If it is used rock, then there might be and proper care should be taken.
jm.02
The bottom line is this - if it is clean rock, there will be no cycle because of it. If it is used rock, then there might be and proper care should be taken.
jm.02
hkgar
Active member
I just add rock to the tank, no pre wash, no soaking, just buy it and in it goes. Never had a problem. Although I have never checked ammonia levels after adding and the tank is 180 and had over 100 pounds when I added both dead (Marco) and live (from LFS) 20 pounds at a time. I will be adding another 20 shortly to the sump. I need all the help I can get with my bio load.
