Re-Cure or Cook Used LR

[ppurcell]

I picked up some LR which was out of tank and in storage for a day or two from another member this weekend which has some nuisance algae growth, kenya's, some zoas and I'm not sure what else on it.

I am in the process of re-curing it by adding circulation and doing water changes. There is no light directly over the LR and I don't have a skimmer on it. (I don't have a spare one available)

So after the preamble. I'm looking for opinions if I should follow through with the curing process as I am proceeding, if I should modify what I'm doing or if I should just cook the rock and and then let the things that like to live in rocks migrate in from some of my existing rock work.

The previous owner indicated that he was having some trouble with an outbreak of unidentified small things crawling all over the rock and other tank inhabitants, which are not obviously present now.

If I go the cooked rock route, what is the process? Just boil the rocks in RO for a bit to kill off anything living on or in them?

Phil

 

[newnano]

"cooking rock" doesnt actually involve cooking them. it refers to a long process of keeping the rock in sw but in darkness skimming and a serious schedule of water changes. i read about it briefly once. that is all i know. i heard its a pain and takes a cpl mos. maybe someone else can fill you in more on it.

 

[dkh0331]

SeanT's Rock cooking recipe -

"Here is the process.

The purpose of "cooking" your rocks is to have the bacteria consume all (or as much) organic material and PO4 stored on, and in, the rock as possible.
The first step to this is commitment.
You have to be willing to remove your rock from the tank.
It doesn't have to be all at once, but I feel if you are going to do this do it all. In stages if that is easier but make sure that all of it gets done.
The new environment you are creating for your rock is to take it from an algal driven to a bacterial driven system.
In order to do this, the rock needs to be in total darkness to retard and eventually kill the algae's on the rock and to give the bacteria time to do the job.
So basically you need tubs to hold the rock.
Equipment needed.
1. Dedication.
2. Tubs to cook rock in. And an equal amount of tubs to hold the rock during waterchanges.
3. A few powerheads.
4. Plenty of buckets.
5. A smug feeling of superiority that you are taking it to "the next level."
6. Saltwater, enough made up to follow the instructions below and to replenish your tank after removing rocks.

Here are the steps:
1. Get into your head and accept the fact you will be making lots of salt water if you aren't lucky enough to have access to filtered NSW.
2. Explain to significant other what is going on so they don't flip out. This process can take up to 2 months. Prepare them in advance so he/she can mark it on the calendar and that they won't nag about it until that date arrives.
3. Setup a tub(s) where the rock is to be cooked. Garages are great for this.
4. Make up enough water to fill tub(s) about halfway and around 5-7 buckets about 60% full.
5. Remove all the rock you want to cook at this stage. (The rock can be removed piece by piece until you are done.) I suggest shutting off the circulation beforehand to minimize dust storms.
6. Take the first piece of rock and dunk it, swish it, very, very well in the first bucket. Then do it again in the 2nd bucket, then the third.
7. Place rock in the tub.
8. Repeat steps 6 & 7 to every piece of rock you want to cook at this time. The reason I suggested 5-7 buckets of water will be evident quickly...as the water quickly turns brown.
9. Place powerhead(s) in the tub and plug in. Position at least one powerhead so that it agitates the surface of the water pretty well. This is to keep the water oxygenated. You can use an air pump for additional oxygenation if you wish. Only one powerhead per tub is needed. Remember the powerheads main responsibility is the oxygenation of the water.
10. Cover the tub. Remember, we want TOTAL darkness.
11. Empty out buckets, restart circulation on main tank.
12. Wait.
13. During the first couple of weeks it is recommended to do a swishing and dunking of the rocks twice a week.
What this entails is to make up enough water to fill up those buckets and the tub the rock is in.
First, lay out your empty tub(s) and fill buckets the same as before.
Then, uncover tub with the rock in it. Take a rock and swish it in the tub it's in to knock any easy to get off junk.
Then, swish it thru the 3 buckets again, and place in the empty tub..
Repeat for all your rocks.
Then empty the tub that all the rocks were cooking in, take it outside and rinse it out with a hose.
Place tub back where it was, fill with new saltwater, add rocks and powerheads, and cover.
Wait again until the next water change.
You will be utterly amazed at how much sand, silt, detritus is at the bottom of the tub and every bucket. It is amazing."

HTH

David
Graduate of SeanT's Rock Cooking School.

 

[newnano]

does the temp of the water matter at all?

 

[dkh0331]

I threw a heater in and kept it at about 72.

 

[newnano]

ahh. cuz i noticed it mentioned the "garage is a good place for this" and my garage was about 20 degrees farenheit this morning.

 

[dkh0331]

I did mine in the basement. Basement floors get pretty cold here in Pittsburgh. I would keep an eye on your temp, 70-72 and it should be fine. Maybe for you, a heater or 9 or 10.

 

[ppurcell]

That's humorous. I assumed the cooking was a literal term. Thanks for the information. I think I'll 'cook' it, the time to do it isn't a big deal for me....

I don't see skimming in the procedure. Is it necessary or beneficial?

Anyone willing to loan or rent me a skimmer for a month or two...

 

[dkh0331]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8679635#post8679635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ppurcell
That's humorous. I assumed the cooking was a literal term. Thanks for the information. I think I'll 'cook' it, the time to do it isn't a big deal for me....

I don't see skimming in the procedure. Is it necessary or beneficial?

Anyone willing to loan or rent me a skimmer for a month or two...

Skimmer not needed. Strong back for a butt load of dunking and swishing is needed.

HTH

David

 

[ostrow]

Or, pick up a cheap skimmer it'll help. Someone on here must have an extra you could borrow. Heck, I have an Aq. systems thing I've never once hooked up but you could have it if you want and see if you can get it to fire up.