Curing live rock

[Dono1990]

just purchased my first piece of actual live rock. The guy at the store had it curing already and said it was 80% done. How long should I cure it for before putting it into my aquarium. It is 11lbs

 

[Caseyoidae]

It's hard to say. Longer the better. I'd dunk it in something other than the tank before putting it in.

 

[jorge0912]

i put mine with some fresh salt water in a bin from waltmart put a power head and a heater and leave it there for few weeks also change the water every week.. thats how i cured my live rock

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm not sure what 80% cured means??? Curing allows the dead stuff to leave the rock resulting in phosphates and nitrates climbing until this "leaching" has resided. So what is 80%??? I'd still put this in a tank/tub and let it sit, and measure the phosphates and nitrates. If high, first curse this SOB who told you 80%....If low, I'll eat my shorts. 80%!!!!

And then cure this properly.

 

[Dono1990]

Thanks for the reply’s.

 

[jda]

Use water from your tank to cure it and then put the fresh/new water into your tank. Swish it around every time that you change water. When there is no stinky smell in the water after a few days without a change, then you are good to go.

Curing the rock is more of an ammonia thing that nitrate and phosphate - N and P don't crash tank, but ammonia does.

 

[Michael Llabona]

N and P are for sure important. You want to make sure it's nearly undetectable. It will help avoid any algea outbreaks if the rock leaches any nutrients.