Curing live rock without a yard?

[West1]

Over the past 12yrs, we have visited our new home state. We recently moved into an apartment, this way we can see if we truly like it here. Good news, I got a job quick and currently working on the Orion project.

With that said, we have a small patio but the HOA does not want any trash cans or any random eyesore in the open.

Our temp living is fairly spacious and I stumbled upon a Red Sea Reffer 525! This should be setup next weekend.
Today I picked up some dry rock from a local fish store and have no desire to use it if it's not nuked in something.

I've read 3 types of curing. Muriatic Acid, bleach or vinegar. MA being the most dangerous and most effective but I have nowhere to actually do it.

Bleach takes a week or 2 but there is no way I could leave a brute outside that long without being scolded or possibly fined.

Could I do a week long bleach in the restroom with the restroom ceiling fan on 24/7?

Any indoor options to be 100% pest free?

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Curing is the process of preparing/conditioning live or dry rock to be usable in the aquarium by allowing beneficial bacteria to grow and to give time for dead organics to be broken down, so your tank doesn't spike with ammonia. What you are doing is not curing, but what people sometimes call "cooking". This is occasionally done if you have live rock with undesirable pests, like algae or aptaisia.

If it's truly dry rock, you shouldn't have to be too worried about hitchhikers and pests. Really all you need to do is throw it in a brute, add circulation and a heater, and do water changes every week. In 4-6 weeks it will be ready to use.

If you still feel like you have to "nuke" it for some reason, I would not recommend doing it indoors.

 

[West1]

Curing is the process of preparing/conditioning live or dry rock to be usable in the aquarium by allowing beneficial bacteria to grow and to give time for dead organics to be broken down, so your tank doesn't spike with ammonia. What you are doing is not curing, but what people sometimes call "cooking". This is occasionally done if you have live rock with undesirable pests, like algae or aptaisia.

If it's truly dry rock, you shouldn't have to be too worried about hitchhikers and pests. Really all you need to do is throw it in a brute, add circulation and a heater, and do water changes every week. In 4-6 weeks it will be ready to use.

If you still feel like you have to "nuke" it for some reason, I would not recommend doing it indoors.

Yes, I want to cook the rock.
It is dry rock but I do not want to take any chances in the event it's got something.

 

[rc1626]

I'm not sure I'd call it "cooking" either but rather just cleaning. "Cooking" rock refers to rock that is already established being put in a dark (without light, not color) container for 6 - 8 weeks with a powerhead to kill off any bad pests (algae, aptasia, etc.) but still keep all the beneficial bacteria. This rock is typically fully cured at the start of the "cooking" process and comes out still cured and ready to go hopefully with pests now gone.

Rock that is subjected to bleach, muriatic acid, vinegar or whatever is just cleaned rock which now has to be cycled or cured (nitrogen cycle). If the rock is dry and actually dead there are no pests per say. Bleach will make it look new again whereas muriatic acid will dissolve a thin outer layer of the surface of the rock. This should remove any dead pests left behind so they don't come back to haunt you as nutrients that can feed algae blooms later on. This sounds like what you're considering. This should be done separate from the tank in a barrel or storage tote as you are considering. After this process is completed and the rock thoroughly rinsed (in ro/di water for best results) it can now be cycled or cured. This can be done in a separate clean barrel or in the tank itself using fresh saltwater. This can take some time to do and can generally be started with small ghost feedings to the tank or with the use of a cocktail shrimp tossed in to get the process started. The process can be sped up by the use of bottled bacteria or sand/ rock from an already cycled tank but it still can take a couple to a few weeks to complete. Good start by asking here. Continue to do your homework as it might save you some headaches down the road. Good luck! Also if you go the acid route use extreme care as that stuff can be dangerous.
HTH.

 

[Dine]

If this is truly dry rock then there’s no pests to be worried about. There are however 2 things to consider

dead organic material- this is only a factor IF the rock was alive at some point but then was dried. old algae, dead critters, etc. these once added back to water will break down. It’s good in that it will kick start a cycle but bad in that who knows how long it will dump nitrates into the system. This rock will look like something washed up on the beach. It will look dirty but dry

phosphates- some dry rock, esp mined, hasn’t seen an ocean in a really long time, dry rock can have a High lvl of phosphate stored in it. This rock will look clean. Nothing dried or caked into it.

which do you have?

 

[Silent]

If your trashcan has a tight fitting lid I dont see why you couldn't do it in the house.
Disclaimer: I recommend you do this outside.

 

[flsalty]

Dry rock is already pest free. If it has bits of stuff in it you can hose it off real good. If using bleach makes you feel better, then pour like a quarter cup in your trash can in the bathroom. I can't think of any good reason to use muriatic acid. All that does is eat away at the rock.

 

[West1]

Thanks for the replies.

The rock was used at one point, how long ago we do not know.

In my previous tank, I went the MA route, cured it then cycled. It brought great peace of mind!

If I cant figure something out, I might return to the LFS next weekend with my brute can, eye protection and baking soda, hopefully they will let me do it near the back alley for some "tip money".

 

[West1]

Where theres a will, theres a way...

Waited for it to get dark, cooking dry and a few live rock in a brute can outside.
Just an solution to my problem.

 

[Nobody077]

Think you could get away with a small Rubbermaid style storage bin on the patio for a few days? I cooked my rock about 50lbs in 18gal Rubbermaid bin with acid. Start to finish was quick, covered rock with water and added 1 gal acid,cooked for 15min then about 4 small boxes of baking soda before dumping and refill with water,followed by bleach soak for few days. I got the rock used but dry, no idea of past use, no ideas if copper meds had been used so wanted to strip top layer from rock just for peace of mind. The 18gal bins are lot less noticeable then the trash cans and next to a potted plant may go in noticed for some time.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I would skip the acid and bleach imho. The only source able dry rock has either been dead for millennia(marco rock). Or is manufactured. The curing process of dead fiji, pukani, tonga are all kinda a waste with this rock. Pick up a cheap phosphate test and soak for a week in ro/di water test po4. If this is below .2ppm or undetectable move to cycling the rock in the tank and start your aquascape and other starting steps. Its red sea so putting together lol.