Tidbit on curing live rock

[seldin]

I read an interesting tidbit that I thought I would share. One of the things that you may worry about is hitchhikers like Parasites, that are on the live rock that you cure.

I found out that if you cure your live rock for at least 4 weeks (no live fish in bucket) the parasites should die, before being put in your tank, because the gestation period is 4 weeks. So when curing in a bucket, if you wait that long, you eliminate these types of pests. The negative, is maybe some of these hitchhikers you may want.

But I look at it like this. When adding live rock to a tank, you don't want to add pests that are difficult to get rid of. So by curing it for 4 weeks, you are reducing the pests that are difficult to get rid of...

I will share a negative tidbit. I cured my recent live rock from Live Aquaria. When it first came, it was totally heavily encrusted with Coraline. However, after curing it for 5.5 weeks, I had tremendous "die off". However, when placed it in my tank, the Coraline is growing. However, I don't know "how fast it's growing". So I am not sure, how much die off, will be replaced. I am hoping for the best.

I am monitoring my calcium and lighting to speed things up.

I was very surprised with the large "die off'.

While I am watching my Coraline grow daily I am reminded of the quote of "it's like watching paint dry" (ha,ha).

 

[seldin]

I just purchased Fiji Premium Live Rock from LiveAquaria. Great price. With shipping paid about $3.17 lb. I have seen base rock selling locally for $2 lb, so I think I got a good price.

 

[directional]

Yeah thats a good price... I just scored some rock that I got from someone local that needed to be bleached and recured. I had a bunch of pieces in my 2.5gal for about 4 weeks and I just put a piece in my tank today

 

[seldin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10959824#post10959824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by directional
Yeah thats a good price... I just scored some rock that I got from someone local that needed to be bleached and recured. I had a bunch of pieces in my 2.5gal for about 4 weeks and I just put a piece in my tank today

Directional,

Bleaching scares me. However, a number of people do it without a problem, as long as they follow the "right steps".

You bring up a point. In local tanks, you are just as possible to get parasites, etc. Some local guys also recommended to cure their rock. So if your going to cure it, I thought it might be better just to get stuff mail order stuff that has tons of good (and bad stuff)... and it's delivered to my door.

So for me, I kind of look at it as $2lb for base rock local and $3.17lb mail order.

 

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

Hi Guys, former LIRA member here, Now in Tampa for 3+ years. Anyway, in my business I run across lots of rock that has not been kept properly due to maintenance issues. Sometimes it's covered with hair algae, or it just gets so loaded with nitrates that it seems useless and ugly.

I have 2 ways to get it back to health.

First is to use what's know as cooking, this is where you put the rock in some type of sump or garbage can and add very high flow current to briskly move off the debris and force the water through the pores of the rock. The system will need frequent water changes to dilute waste. Skimming should also be a priority, plus the rock should be kept in the dark. Empty the container the rock is in to wash out the sediment frequently and stay on top of water parameters, in 4-5 weeks you will have rock that is stripped clean and ready to place back into an existing system where the good bacteria will again colonize and Coroline Algae will again form on the rock.

As for the bleach method,
I soak the rock in bleach and tap water for 24 hours. 1 gallon bleach to 50 gallons of water. I then rinse it in a tub of fresh water for about 3 days, changing the water every day. I then soak the rock in RO/DI water for another 3-4 days with strong currents. Then it goes into clean saltwater for 1 week, again with strong current, skimming and no light. After this you can put it into your reef tank where as long as you have your water parameters right it will colonize and become good live rock.

Hi to all in the club that may remember me.

John Guerriero
Tampa Aquarium Service

 

[cb747]

Hi John! *waves*

 

[seldin]

John,

So it sounds like your taking live rock that's kind of far gone and making it what I think people call base rock.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

I'd have to agree it should be considered clean base rock. I also have a holding system where I can cultivate it back into good live rock without any unwanted hitchhikers.

On a lighter note

I bet the weather is changing up there It's changing down here too. Now it only goes up to 88 by midday Just got out of my primo pool with a spa and rock waterfall!! Gonna barbecue some steaks now and kick back with a beer as I watch the big flatscreen LCD under the screened in patio. Man life down here is really hard.

We are drawing up plans for a killer Tiki bar build next month with all the toys, Keg-a-later with tap on top of the bar and a multi head tap for sodas and mixers. I also have a lead on one of those commercial frozen drink machines. All authentically decked out with bamboo, grass top and Tiki heads, like the Florida keys bars.

 

[cb747]

Thats it im coming to visit!

 

[pescadero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10956510#post10956510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seldin
I just purchased Fiji Premium Live Rock from LiveAquaria. Great price. With shipping paid about $3.17 lb. I have seen base rock selling locally for $2 lb, so I think I got a good price.

I'm shopping for rock right now, and I have to admit that the terminology used on that site can be a bit confusing. I couldn't find "Fiji Premium Live Rock" on that site for $2.00/lb.

I did find:

Fij Premium Live Rock - Large Size at $329 for 90 lb., or $3.65 before shipping.

Select Fiji Premium Live Rock for $120/45lb, or $2.66 plus shipping.

Fiji Standard Live Rock for $90/45 lb., or $2.00/lb plus shipping.

which one did you get? I'm guessing that you bought the last one. are you happy with it?

TIA

 

[seldin]

Pescadero,

I went back to the Web site and the name for the rock you are looking at. I did notice that there is no longer a rock selection titled Fiji Premium. However, as you have noticed it is now called Fiji Standard. They also changed the wording. When I purchased this item, they mentioned some % that was covered with Coraline. The current verbiage does not mention this.

I will give you some insight. I first bought some Tonga Branch rock. This rock is totally encrusted with Coraline.

However, the rock for Fiji Premium was not heavy encrusted. The company right away said they will give me a 50% credit, because it should have been a good deal encrusted with Coraline.

So now to the recommendation part. Drs Foster and Smith is totally reputable. I never had to fight for any refund whatsover. They always bend over backwards to help me.

For me, I would go with the Tonga Branch Rock they offer. It's totally heavy encrusted. Or I would try the Drs Foster and Smith Fiji Select Premium. If they mention it's heavily encrusted then it is.

The Fiji standard is not heavy encrusted. However, the pieces came in very big sizes. So I was surprised on that front. The rock is growing coraline and has had very little die off.

PS. I would stress to follow their curing instructions. You will have less die off with frequent water changes, which means that more of what you want will be placed in your tank, and you won't have to wait so long.

PS. When I mentioned price per pound, I included the shipping costs.


Hope this helps.

- Larry


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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11185107#post11185107 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pescadero
I'm shopping for rock right now, and I have to admit that the terminology used on that site can be a bit confusing. I couldn't find "Fiji Premium Live Rock" on that site for $2.00/lb.

I did find:

Fij Premium Live Rock - Large Size at $329 for 90 lb., or $3.65 before shipping.

Select Fiji Premium Live Rock for $120/45lb, or $2.66 plus shipping.

Fiji Standard Live Rock for $90/45 lb., or $2.00/lb plus shipping.

which one did you get? I'm guessing that you bought the last one. are you happy with it?

TIA

 

[pescadero]

Thanks!