Curing/Cycling Advice Needed

Reefer Miles · Dec 6, 2018

Hello everyone. I will be setting up a 180g in approximately 4-5 months. I will create a build thread once I do. In the meantime, I just received 120lbs of CaribSea LifeRock. Looks great by the way - especially the "Shapes." I could not be more pleased. Since I have several months on my hands while I have the tank and stand built, I would like to get a jump on curing and cycling my dry rock with Dr. Tim's and dosing ammonia. CaribSea says it is not necessary to cure their LifeRock, but I figure it can't hurt.

First question - once cured and cycled for several months, how long can I keep the rock out of water to aquascape? I anticipate I will need a day or two to glue some pieces together and let it set. Will that kill off the bacteria, thus defeating the entire process?

Second question - CaribSea claims the rock is seeded with beneficial bacteria. If I simply cure the rock for a few months without cycling with Dr. Tim's and ammonia, will that trigger the seeded bacteria? If so, will that bacteria starve off if I add nothing to the curing process (ammonia/ghost feed, etc.)? If the bacteria will survive, I am back to the question of how long the rock can remain out of water once the bacteria is triggered.

Assuming I can leave the rock out of water for a day or two to aquascape after curing/cycling, my plan is as follows:

Soak in Brute in heated saltwater with no lights for a few months - do I cover / do I need to do any water changes during this period?
Once I am two months out from tank/stand completion, dose Dr. Tim's and ammonia to start the cycle.
Test as needed.
Once cycled, continue dosing ammonia to keep the bacteria alive until the tank/stand is done.
Move rock to tank, aquascape for a day or two, then begin another cycling process to cycle the tank, sand and marine pure blocks.

Does this sound correct? Any comments or suggestions? Thanks everyone.

ihavecrabs · Dec 6, 2018

You might be better off to build it, then cycle it. I built my scape dry, let the epoxy cure to ensure it was strong, then cycled it. This was post curing though (since I used pukani).

ihavecrabs · Dec 6, 2018

Unless you suspect the rock had a lot of phosphates or can see a lot of dead organics, I'd skip the cure.

Reefer Miles · Dec 6, 2018

The rock is man-made. No dead organics. Not sure about phosphates. The reason for the cure is to test for any leaching and to create a bio-film on the rock before putting in the tank for algae control. Since I have several months on my hands, I would like to take this time to get a jump on maturing the rock, but not if that purpose is defeated by leaving the rock out of water for a day or two to aquascape and let the glue set.

Make sense?

Reefer Miles · Dec 6, 2018

I emailed CaribSea these questions and am awaiting their reply. I just wanted to get the community's thoughts.

BTW, the guys at CaribSea were very quick to reply to a previous set of questions I posed. So far, I am very pleased with the rock and their service.

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 6, 2018

You should not need to cure it, just build your aquas cape put in the tank and run your cycle.

lapin · Dec 6, 2018

While some bacteria can change to exospores and endospores to remain viable in unfavorable conditions. Im not sure the bacteria we want in our tanks have that ability. So the Spored Bacteria on Life Rock may or may not be good stuff. If it was me I would put the rock in a tub with some salt water, a heater and power head. Dump in some of that Fritz Turbo or Dr Tims. Add an ammonia source and let it cycle for a month or 2. Ghost feed it a bit but dont feel you need to feed it a lot. When you are ready you can take it out and scape it. If it takes 2 days, some of the bacteria will die off. The rock will remain wet inside and thats where most of it lives. Maybe dry fit some of it before hand, drill holes ect...so you have some idea of what you want it to be like.

NickC · Dec 6, 2018

Your plan sounds good to me! Only thing I would change is just go ahead and add your dr Tim’s and ammonia right away. You can start your cycle right from the beginning.

Once the rock is processing ammonia, I wodnt worry about dosing much more ammonia. All you’ll be doing is adding nitrates. The bacteria will survive with very very little so no need to continue to pump nutrients in unnecessarily.

I’m almost done with a new build and have dealt with the rock in a very similar manner to your plan. I think you’ll be glad you gave your rock a head start before adding it to the system.

As far as glueing the rocks together, you are correct. Letting it sit dry for a couple of days will negatively affect its bacteria population in a big way. You can use epoxy putty, which will cure and harden under water, or drill the rocks and use fiberglass/acrylic rods to hold them together. Or a combination of both. Just keep a bin with saltwater next to you while doing your structure so the rock isn’t sitting out dry the whole time, piece it together, and your set.