When adding rock....

[lougotzz]

When adding cured rock to a brand new tank, is there anything special I need to do to it? Or do I just stick it in the tank without rinsing or anything? It is cured rock.
Thank you. Lou.

 

[tkeracer619]

If you cured it at home or lfs then just put it in. If it came pre cured mail order then I would scrub it with a stiff brush and put it in a rubber maid for a week or two with water and flow before putting it in the display as it will have some die off and need some time.

 

[Horizon12]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14757506#post14757506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
If you cured it at home or lfs then just put it in. If it came pre cured mail order then I would scrub it with a stiff brush and put it in a rubber maid for a week or two with water and flow before putting it in the display as it will have some die off and need some time.

+1

 

[lougotzz]

Re: When adding rock....

The rock has been bought from premium aquatics and shipped over night. Is that ok to stick in the tank?

 

[tkeracer619]

I assume it will be shipped damp and not in water. I would scrub it and let it go in a rubber maid for a week or two. Non cured rock can take a few months to shed stuff. The pre cured stuff you get from reputable mail order places usually only takes a week or two.

Will it be fine if you just stick it in the tank? Probably but can't guarantee it. There is going to be a small amount of stuff that died that will cause ammonia in your tank. If nothing else is in the tank then you could go with it but IME its best to let anything that died in shipping rot in another container other then your display.

 

[lougotzz]

Well the tank still needs to cycle, it's "clean" would it be good to use the die off during the cycle for larger bio load? Thanks. Lou.

 

[lougotzz]

To help create a larger bio load*

 

[tkeracer619]

Nah, that isn't really an issue. The concept behind pre cured rock is the tank probably wont cycle that much if at all. If you put it strait in the tank at least scrub it. Since you don't have anything in the tank you will be fine.

 

[lougotzz]

Alright so just scrubs it. Toothbrush work?

 

[lougotzz]

Alright so just scrubs it. Toothbrush work?

 

[tkeracer619]

I would use something more like an unused toilet or dish brush with stiff bristles.

 

[eros]

Take a good look at it, making sure to check cracks and crevices. It may have some dying critters like clams or sponges that will continue to decay in your tank for a long time. You could take a powerful powerhead and blow them off underwater, use a couple of different buckets to dip and swish until the rock looks good. It's tuff to say without seeing the rock. Some rock has a lot of live like sponges, algae, coral ect and some has very little. If it looks clean you are probably fine. Either way I would at least put it in some buckets with powerheads and a heater and test for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate for a couple of days to be safe.