Rock cooking question

[GlassReef]

Need some feedback please. I'm setting up a 375gal reef for SPS. Gonna be using about 300lbs of LR. I intend to cook the rock. So .... my question: what do you think of cooking it in the display tank itself? I would leave it there for about 3 months or until the detritus stopped. I'd clean the rocks every day with a strong pump. No sand bed. No lights. Skimmer 24/7. At the end of the process I would do a 100% water change.

Whatta ya think - dumb or doable?

 

[Shouse94]

Definitely doable. Sounds like the only difference is that instead of using plastic tubs, your using a glass tank instead. NOW, I would A) make sure the tank does not see ANY light, or B.) cover the glass with a material to prevent light exposure.
I guess my only question is why? You risk scratching your aquarium b/c you don't want to spend $50 on tubs which you could probably find use for later... just my 2 cents

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13064903#post13064903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shouse94
Definitely doable. Sounds like the only difference is that instead of using plastic tubs, your using a glass tank instead. NOW, I would A) make sure the tank does not see ANY light, or B.) cover the glass with a material to prevent light exposure.
I guess my only question is why? You risk scratching your aquarium b/c you don't want to spend $50 on tubs which you could probably find use for later... just my 2 cents

Thanks for your input! I was going to cover the tank with black poster board. My tank is glass and I was intending to place the rock work in it's permanent position on a PVC support system. My real reason for wanting to do it this way is, I'm lazy. Moving 300lbs of rock around from bin to bin once or twice a week maybe fun - but not moving it is priceless But seriously, you actually think the result would be the same as the "normal" method?

 

[wayne in norway]

Realistically why would it be any different. Apart from not being pretty, you do have the advantaga of using your display skimmer, powerheads and so on rather than mucking around in the garage with your spare (and usually 2nd best) equipment.

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13066820#post13066820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wayne in norway
you do have the advantage of using your display skimmer, powerheads and so on rather than mucking around in the garage with your spare (and usually 2nd best) equipment.

Hey Wayne - thanks for your input. That is exactly where my thoughts are taking me. I just don't see where there could be a difference. A powerful skimmer, lots of flow, daily clearing of expelled detritus, light deprivation. It should work.

Anyone not think so?

 

[crvz]

If you're able to clean the rock off well and frequently, and you take the time to siphon all detritus on a weekly or biweekly basis, I think you'll have good success with that method. You may not even need to take the rocks out, and I don't know that a 100% water change is really even needed. If this is an initial setup, I almost see that as "cycling" or "curing" the rock, not so much cooking, but easily as effective. I'd probably do the same thing, as it's a lot less overhead in space (which is a premium at my house).

 

[rivoth]

You will use a whole lot less water on your water changes if you can lay out the rock with the idea of keeping your water level as low as possible. If you place your rock in it's permanent position then that will not be possible.

The process will also be more thorough if you have the ability to periodically turn over the rock so that all surfaces get exposed to heavy water flow.

Another thing about curing live rock. For the first week or more it can really stink as the dead life decays. Some people have reported gag reflex level of stink. How much stink you get depends on what process the live rock has been through from the time it was collected, to the time you put it in your tank.

In the later stages you will want to run your lights. You are going to have a diatom bloom and then an algae bloom regardless. Might as well get the worst of that over with before you start adding other stuff to the tank.

 

[GlassReef]

rivoth - thanks for your input. Good idea with the low water level. I hadn't thought of the smell problem. The tank is an in-wall. I could probably seal it pretty well with plastic sheeting. That should help.

 

[Aquarist007]

there are instructions for cooking rock on this thread


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13070554#post13070554

 

[spsfreak]

Also, with cooking rock you need to take the rock out of the "holding space" - whatever that may be - from time to time and "swish" the rocks around in another container. This container can be a bucket or another tub but this will help rid of any waste and general decay within the rock. I have been "cooking" my rock for several months now and the buckets of nasty that I empty out after swishing my rocks around is just plain nasty. Finally the buckets are getting less and less of brown\green tinge and just starting to look a bit dirty. I feel that after I finish that I will have live rock that is free of debris that down the road could cause me grief. I took the method that SeanT recorded and used it, as also mentioned above.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=485572

 

[GlassReef]

I'm just wondering what the real difference is between:

1. (rock in a bucket) taking the rock out and swishing it around

and

2. (cooking rock in a tank) cleaning it by using a strong pump to blow detritus off and out of the rock. Then siphoning out all the detritus. This under strong skimming.

In both cases the rock is kept dark. Does anyone think the 2nd method could be as effective as the first?

 

[spsfreak]

Personally, no. The pump generally is one directional, or linear. In swishing\twisting the rock around water is moving through all crevices in the rock, around\through the entire rock; not just on one side blowing through the rock. JMO though.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13091373#post13091373 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spsfreak
Personally, no. The pump generally is one directional, or linear. In swishing\twisting the rock around water is moving through all crevices in the rock, around\through the entire rock; not just on one side blowing through the rock. JMO though.

I agree--with cooking rock you are trying to get rid of absorbed phosphates and nitrates in the core of the rock.

 

[GlassReef]

Some good points, spsfreak. Thanks.

 

[crvz]

I dunno, I think if you move the pump around the rock a few times you can get as much junk out of it as swishing it.

 

[GlassReef]

I would tend to go along with crvz's opinion, but I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.