SeanT 's 300 gallon Cube-esque project.

[Jar*Head]

Never Never Land? So Michael Jackson has your tank? I thought he was a singer, didn't know he makes tank on the side :lol:

 

[tonyespinoza]

wait... nearly died!??!?!?!? are you kidding???

 

[SeanT]

Here is one of the reasons I advocate "cooking" your rock so adamantly.

I had a horrible hair algae problem I could not get rid of.
I "cooked" all of my rock 3-4 years ago...I forget.
All the algae was gone.

From Feb. 2006 to Feb. 2007, I didn't change water ONCE, didn't clean my skimmer ONCE (I had just opened a new business and it took all of my time).
I could barely be bothered to add top off water.

I fed my fish and that was pretty much it...no real nutrient export whatsoever.

The ONLY algae I have was a few stalks of Neomersis (sp) on a single rock.


Now, 3-4 years later I am "cooking" my rocks to get it ready for another several years...longer since I plan to maintain it this time.
My current rock looks great, no need to "cook" it again but since I am taking down my 180 I figure it will make everything even better.

I have had my rock, plus the 3 pieces I got from BRS, "cooking" for several weeks now and I want to share a picture.

I change the water in the tub and dunk and swish all the rocks 3 times a week generally...LOTS of dunking and swishing, LOTS of water changes.

This picture is from today, it shows all the crap that came out of a SINGLE rock, half the size of a volleyball.
This rock has no algae on it and has been "cooking" for several weeks already.
This alone is a good enough reason to "cook" your rocks.

 

[SeanT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12539362#post12539362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonyespinoza
wait... nearly died!??!?!?!? are you kidding???

Nope...I was in the ICU for several days and almost died...was over the Fourth of July too.

 

[SeanT]

Here, I dug up the thread...still has pics attached.


Another...your tank can be dangerous thread.

 

[EBOLII]

Is there a link to this "cooking" process? I am interested in reading the theory

 

[SeanT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12539341#post12539341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jar*Head
Never Never Land? So Michael Jackson has your tank? I thought he was a singer, didn't know he makes tank on the side :lol:

He better not scratch my tank with that glove.

 

[SeanT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12539449#post12539449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EBOLII
Is there a link to this "cooking" process? I am interested in reading the theory

Not a theory.

Here is a summation I worked up a few years ago:

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 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.
At times the stench was so strong I gagged.

How it works:

Some FAQ's.
When re-introducing the rock to my tank, a month or two from now, should I do that in parts to help minimize any cycling effect(s)...if there are any?
I never have. Really after a very short while, the ammonium cycle has been established. That's not what you're worry about though, it's the stored phosphates and that you have to wait it out.
When they are producing very little detritus - you'll know - then I would use them all at once.

Would running Carbon filtration and/or a PO4 reducing media help/hurry/hinder the process?
I wouldn't fool with it. You don't want the detritus to sit there long enough to rot, release water soluble P again. You want to take it out while it's still locked up in that bacterial detritus.

And a few last minute tidbits I remembered.
Your coralline will die back, recede etc.
My thoughts on this are GREAT!
Now my rock is more porous for additional pods, mysids, worms etc.
Coralline will grow back.
Throughout this process the sponges, and pods on my rock have not died off.
Every time I do a water change they are there and plentiful.

 

[SeanT]

Here is one of my long threads.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=485572

 

[SeanT]

This is my turorial on How To Go Barebottom...has a lot of good "cooking" info in it as well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=650985

 

[EBOLII]

Thank you. I meant to say thought process...I am glad you saw the error in my words.

 

[Jar*Head]

Got some good news from Jay ...... You know my number

 

[SeanT]

Thanks for the update Steve.

 

[jnarowe]

I am curious why you can't cook the rock with light.

 

[SeanT]

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.

Basically this means if there is light getting in the algae still grows and compete with the bacteria for the phosphates...and continues to grow.

If you take it to total darkness, the algae whithers, retards, dies, breaks down and the bacteria consume it.

 

[jnarowe]

K. That makes sense.

 

[zoomin]

OT: Question on rock cooking.

OT: Question on rock cooking.

OT: Question on rock cooking.

Will this kill mojamo nems and red flat worms?

 

[SeanT]

Mojano's for sure.
As for flatworms...I have never had them while cooking, I certainly would imagine they would either die off completely due to lack of food or have their numbers drastically reduced for sure.
Towards the end of the "cooking" you can easily add Flatworm Exit at a much higher dosage, without the fear of it hurting fish, corals etc., to ensure their demise.

Sean

 

[kdblove_99]

dang forgot that was you with that Thumb. Glad everything is well.

All that plumbing is just nuts$$$$$.

Looking good. Cant wait to see the tank up

 

[Jflip2002]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12469168#post12469168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT
Hey Joe,
Do you have any pics or a thread to show it?
Thanks,
Sean

Sean, its not to the degree of what Terry showed, but heres my tank...

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f233/joes-60g-reef-cube-92934-3.html

Its short enough so I dont gotta stand on it when cleaning, but the edge is just wide enough that I can stand on it, along with the back (about 6-8" in the back) that I stood on it when hanging my MH pendant.