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Curing dry rocks

MikeNapoli

MikeNapoli

Phyl,

My marco rock wasn't that bad. I only had about 60 lbs but I put them in a 29g Rubbermaid and sprayed them with a hose, drained it and repeated that process about 5 times. Then I put old tank water from water changes over it. It was in a back room for 5-6 weeks but I didn't get much smell ... maybe a little ammonia smell but that's all.
 
ricwilli

ricwilli

What I would like to do is cure some of my rocks in my tank. There is some kind of weed growing on some of them. I have to pull it out every two weeks. Its getting annoying. The big problem is that some of the rocks have corals and sponges on them. Here is what i'm dealing with:

IMG_2549.jpg


IMG_2554.jpg
 
ricwilli

ricwilli

OK, the smell is unbearable, even though the rocks are in the garage. When should I change the water? I was going to do it every two weeks but, I don't think I can leave it that long. Should I dump all of the water or just half?
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Aren't you glad the rock is in the garage? I'd probably dump all of the water and replace it with water from my tank. Good luck sticking it out. You'll probably make the 2 week goal next time around as the first cut is the worst.
 
Ligershark

Ligershark

i wont cure live rock unless its the summer time. i bring some plastic containers outside and do it there. before this i did it in the basement with the windows open, and it was ok.
 
C

Candi

Hmm... my marco rocks didn't smell all that bad, I cured in the tank in the dining room. Granted it was only 50lbs dry and I did immediately seed with some existing LR and LS in the tank and was running my skimmer etc, but it was only a tiny bit smelly. I did rinse them out and spray them out REALLY well before hand in the shower with the hand held nozzle, maybe that helped.
 
C

chase33

Candi said:
Hmm... my marco rocks didn't smell all that bad, I cured in the tank in the dining room. Granted it was only 50lbs dry and I did immediately seed with some existing LR and LS in the tank and was running my skimmer etc, but it was only a tiny bit smelly. I did rinse them out and spray them out REALLY well before hand in the shower with the hand held nozzle, maybe that helped.
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I think you got lucky Candi. I soaked mine, rinsed them off in the shower and still had a terrible stench. Wish I were as lucky as you in that regard.
 
D

depitch039

Not to hijack this thread. ;)

What about "cooking LR" versus "curing".

I know that it can take much longer to cook LR but there are supposed to be better long term benefits.
 
ricwilli

ricwilli

depitch039 said:
Not to hijack this thread. ;)

What about "cooking LR" versus "curing".

I know that it can take much longer to cook LR but there are supposed to be better long term benefits.
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Whats the difference? I thought it was the same thing....
 
H

harryk

cooking the live rock from what i understand is placing it in the oven and baking it to kill all the organisms on it and then curing it. you essentially have dry rock. Most people "cook" live rock when they have some type of nuisance algae or organism on it. Curing live rock it letting the organic material die off in a way that all the beneficial bacteria and various other beneficial organisms survive.

Harry
 
D

DaveK

The idea behind "cooking" live rock is in effect to allow it to cure for an extended period. What is supposed to occur is that the denitrification process is allowed to run it's course, and in the process the rock gets all the nitrates eliminated from it.

The process is done almost like cureing the live rock, except it is continued until nitrater peaks and goes back to zero. Thi scan take weeks or months.

I feel that you should only "cook" the rock if you have some specific problem, such as an uncontrollable algae problem. I do not see it as something to do on a regular basis.
 
C

Carlo

Candi you are dedicated. I've heard of people with a rubber ducky in the tub but taking your rock in the shower... :) Actually that was pretty smart.

I've always been a big advocate of cooking moist (not dry) rock in the oven for an hour at 350. It will kill off just about anything except for coralline algae. Then after that curing it to get any of the now dead material gone and to get the nitrogen cycle stabilized. If you do this line the bottom with aluminum foil and plan on cleaning the over afterwards. Also be prepared for a really nasty smell while cooking.

Not patting myself on the back but I think it was me who introduced the oven cooking method to the hobby back in the 80s. Back then everyone used to think I was absolutely crazy telling/suggesting people do that, now it's kind of common to hear. Boy that brings back memories of the old dedicated marine BBSs.

Carlo
 
C

chase33

Other than having the coralline algae on the live rock what advantages then are there to purchasing Live Rock over dry rock? I'm wondering if it's better to save money and purchase the dry rock instead especially since you should eventually get the coralline to grow on it.
 
H

harryk

chase33 said:
Other than having the coralline algae on the live rock what advantages then are there to purchasing Live Rock over dry rock? I'm wondering if it's better to save money and purchase the dry rock instead especially since you should eventually get the coralline to grow on it.
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The one main difference is the diverse new bacteria cultures that may be populating the new "live rock" and other beneficial organisms. It would most likely be different then the bacteria currently in your tank. It would give your bacteria population a big boost. The dry rock has no bacteria on it.

Harry
 
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