Two tonnes of uncured rock HELP

[dazza]

This rock is going into a very very big tank shortly, any thoughts or experiences has to how I am going to make sure there are no unwanted guests (mantis teddy bears etc ) when it's cured.
I am sort of thinking mature the rock, and then add an octopus for a month or two, what do you guys and gals think ? any quicker ways ? what did you big tank owners do ? TIA Darryl.
ps This is a big project and I figured this is going to be the place to ask some serious questions in the next few months.

This has also been posted on the main reefs site. To add I am thinking that the octopus will predate all the unwanted crabs and mantis shrimps for me, he will be removed at a later date

 

[georgecs]

I heard of using some kind of carbonated water in a container to dunk the rock ,they say the unwanted critters come flying out of the crevices.George

 

[XxAngelzDustxX]

I heard of using some kind of carbonated water in a container to dunk the rock ,they say the unwanted critters come flying out of the crevices.George

Does that do harm to any of the 'wanted' life forms as well?

I doubt that only the bad guys come running out, that would be too easy.

 

[dazza]

I thought about dipping in Hydroxide solution, but was a little worried about other life forms, I also wondered if hydroxide would kill mantis eggs that may be present ! Thanks for the replys.

 

[Agu]

Delbeek and Sprung recommend the use of an octopus to eat shrimp and crabs in new rock,TRA page 316. I suspect the rock needs to be fully cured so as to not kill the octopus. I'd hesitate to dip live rock in anything, the side effects/bykill don't justify it imo.

fwiw,

Agu

 

[dazza]

Thank you, sods law dictates that I have vol 2, I will borrow vol 1, thanks again.

 

[Cliffan]

I got a piece of advice on a forum once, someone stated that it is possible to put the rock into water with a very high salinity for a short while (dunno how much salt he meant) and then the unwanted passengers would crawl out of the rock.

I haven't heard of anyone who has tried this.

 

[imbuggin]

octo

octo

the octopus will die for sure as the rock cycles. You would have to wait till the rock was FULLY cured ..than do a huge water change ...and then it may work. Not a great idea

 

[dazza]

Re: octo

Re: octo

the octopus will die for sure as the rock cycles. You would have to wait till the rock was FULLY cured ..

The tank would of course, be fully mature, before the octopus would be added, I realise the quality of water they require, and this would be met before any addition, thanks for the reply, regards Darryl.

 

[opihi]

2 tons of rock??? do you work for an aquarium?

 

[dazza]

2 tons of rock??? do you work for an aquarium?

No, but I will be managing one of the biggest privatley owned reef tanks in the north of England. There is another thread started in the reefs section on the same subject, regards Darryl.

 

[imbuggin]

dazza

dazza

hey dazza can you tell us about your tank?? or some pics

 

[dazza]

The tank and filtration room is being constructed at the moment, when it's completed I will post pics and specs, there will also be a good web site to acompany things, cheers Darryl.

 

[Tuner_dude]

Did you harvest the whole ocean to get all that rock???

Save some for the whales man. J/K

 

[Ken2001]

Walt Smith's facility in Fiji can hold up to 19 tons of Live Rock, so there's still about 17 left for us.

Ken

 

[kmk2307]

I agree with Agu, I really hate to dunk LR in anything that might hurt the beneficial organisms. I think the vase buried in the sand w/ meaty goodness in the bottom works pretty well too. Good luck and please post lots of pics and info about this massive project!

Thanks and GL,
Kevin

 

[dazza]

Project still on going, just a few weeks away from the live rock stage, will repost, with news and piccys when it is up and running.

 

[lacie143]

High Salinity and Club SOda

High Salinity and Club SOda

I've heard that both Club Soda and High Salinity dips work, but either way thats alot of club soda or a lot of salt water.... These methods will rid your rock of anything more or less, but u could always put the good guys back in right ? Regardless, i think the natural, octopus way, may be better. Their may even be someone in your area that will be happy to loan you one and use your tank as a form of quarinten... Good luck

 

[serjuanca88]

I can just picture you spending a week dipping rocks into a giant vat of club soda. lol

 

[MagnusApollo]

Uh, why don't you just place the rock in the tank.. and then set a Mantis shrimp/Pest trap in the tank? You can buy them for cheap, or I have even made them for people using old plastic soda bottles. Just as the tank is cycling place that trap in there with loads of foods and cocktail shrimp... I tell you if there is a mantis in there it will find it's way inside after the smell of the food... then just take the trap out and either sell the mantis back to the LFS (cause there is a sudden influx of people wanting them) or just wack it with a handy dandy hammer.

I would hate to dip Live rock in any sort of dip... sort of defeats the purpose to me.. And i know I don'thave the patiences to dip two tons of rock in a something.

there are my two cents.