Another dry rock curing question

[Gahngoo]

Hi. When I set up tanks previously, I used reef saver type is dry rock. I'd put it in the tank, add live sand, throw in a table shrimp and a couple pieces of live rock.

I have Fiji & Pukani rock from a someone's tank that was taken down. I did muriactic acid, then bleach, washed/rinsed in fresh water. Then dried, then drilled & expoxied the rockscape. I put it back in the bin with saltwater from a water change on my other tank.

I have a question about curing the rocks that I haven't really found an answer to. I'm going to drain the water in two weeks and put another batch of "water change" salt water back in. Do I add a shrimp or some other food source into the bin and let it rot?

 

[hijinks7]

yes you need some food source for the bacteria to continue to eat.

 

[Clownfish2]

Hi. When I set up tanks previously, I used reef saver type is dry rock. I'd put it in the tank, add live sand, throw in a table shrimp and a couple pieces of live rock.

I have Fiji & Pukani rock from a someone's tank that was taken down. I did muriactic acid, then bleach, washed/rinsed in fresh water. Then dried, then drilled & expoxied the rockscape. I put it back in the bin with saltwater from a water change on my other tank.

I have a question about curing the rocks that I haven't really found an answer to. I'm going to drain the water in two weeks and put another batch of "water change" salt water back in. Do I add a shrimp or some other food source into the bin and let it rot?

Sounds like your rock has been properly cured of any pests or organics by using the acid and then bleach. I soak my rocks for a week in a bleach, rinse, and dry. Then they are ready to be put in the aquarium.

If it’s a new aquarium and has not been cycled, it needs to be cycled via a food source such as raw fish. My preferred method is to add a bottle of nitrifying bacteria to the aquarium which allows you to add fish immediately and not wait weeks for a cycle. If adding corals, I’d wait 2-3 months after adding a couple fish.

 

[Gahngoo]

yes you need some food source for the bacteria to continue to eat.

Just for clarification, toss some shrimp in the rock curing bin with the rock now or shrimp in the tank once I get it set up? (Will be about two months before the tank arrives).

 

[Clownfish2]

Just for clarification, toss some shrimp in the rock curing bin with the rock now or shrimp in the tank once I get it set up? (Will be about two months before the tank arrives).

I think most reefers add the shrimp to the aquarium and let it cycle and stabilize over several weeks without any live fish or corals.

I guess it’s ok to cycle all the rocks and the water in the trash can with raw shrimp too if you plan to use ALL the water from the trash can to set up your aquarium.

When I set up my 110 gallon, I bought three 44 gallon brute trash cans. I cured my rocks in them. Removed the rocks from the trash cans and mixed up saltwater to 1.026. I did not add any raw seafood or bacteria to the trash cans.

I needed help plumbing my tank so when help arrived, after plumbing set up, I pumped all saltwater into the aquarium. I added a bottle of Biro Spira nitrifying bacteria for $10 to my tank and added 2 clownfish to my tank same day.

 

[JBKReef]

I would skip the shrimp and go to Dr Tims ammonium chloride, cleaner and smells better than having rotting fish in your trash can.

Use a bottle of nitrifying bacteria with the water change water, dose up to 2 PPM ammonia, and let it ride out... redose and water change as necessary.

I used this process with starting up my first tank and had zero issues with an almost immediate cycle. (Rock was curing for about 6-8 weeks with ammonia and nitrifying bacteria)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ammo...MIyKn9h47v2wIVyrfACh1Legi4EAQYAiABEgKKIPD_BwE

 

[Gahngoo]

I would skip the shrimp and go to Dr Tims ammonium chloride, cleaner and smells better than having rotting fish in your trash can.

Use a bottle of nitrifying bacteria with the water change water, dose up to 2 PPM ammonia, and let it ride out... redose and water change as necessary.

I used this process with starting up my first tank and had zero issues with an almost immediate cycle. (Rock was curing for about 6-8 weeks with ammonia and nitrifying bacteria)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ammo...MIyKn9h47v2wIVyrfACh1Legi4EAQYAiABEgKKIPD_BwE

Okay. Thank you.

 

[Gahngoo]

I think most reefers add the shrimp to the aquarium and let it cycle and stabilize over several weeks without any live fish or corals.

I guess it’s ok to cycle all the rocks and the water in the trash can with raw shrimp too if you plan to use ALL the water from the trash can to set up your aquarium.

When I set up my 110 gallon, I bought three 44 gallon brute trash cans. I cured my rocks in them. Removed the rocks from the trash cans and mixed up saltwater to 1.026. I did not add any raw seafood or bacteria to the trash cans.

I needed help plumbing my tank so when help arrived, after plumbing set up, I pumped all saltwater into the aquarium. I added a bottle of Biro Spira nitrifying bacteria for $10 to my tank and added 2 clownfish to my tank same day.

Thank you.