Curing old Rock
- Thread starter HawaiianReef
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Jeepguy242
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Heaters just like in the tank
Dan I
Well-Known Member
For optimum growth of nitrifying bacteria is around 78°. However, I acid washed my rocks instead of letting them cycle in a bucket. After, I tossed them in my tank restart and had no issues yet.
HawaiianReef
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Sorry, my mistake in my post.
I'm not cycling the rock yet. Just want to cure them.
I'm not in a hurry on this batch and want to give this method a try before I attempt an acid bath. But I do plan to give the acid bath a try after this batch on some other rock I have. Can you explain how you do yours.
David
I'm not cycling the rock yet. Just want to cure them.
I'm not in a hurry on this batch and want to give this method a try before I attempt an acid bath. But I do plan to give the acid bath a try after this batch on some other rock I have. Can you explain how you do yours.
David
NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
For temperature guidance, I had posted this in the past:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/curing-dry-rock-temperature.342063/#post-4278809
For curing I did bleach 2 weeks with no flow or heat, then RO/DI and dechlorinator for two weeks with flow only. Then continued with RO/DI only for about 6 weeks with flow and heat at 80*F. I did a 100% water change each week after the bleaching stage.
Now I am cycling the rock in the same manner with flow, heat, but weekly 50% water changes.
EDIT: I did not use salt during the curing stage. Switched to RO/DI and salt when I started cycling.
- The temperature for optimum growth of nitrifying bacteria is between 77-86 F (25-30 C)
- Growth rate is decreased by 50% at 64 F (18C)
- Growth rate is decreased by 75% at 46-50 F
- No activity will occur at 39 F (4 C)
- Nitrifying bacteria die at 32 F (0 C)
- Nitrifying bacteria die at 120 F (49 C)
- Nitrobacter is less tolerant of low temperatures than Nitrosomonas, therefore in cold water systems, care must be taken to monitor the accumulation of nitrites.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/curing-dry-rock-temperature.342063/#post-4278809
For curing I did bleach 2 weeks with no flow or heat, then RO/DI and dechlorinator for two weeks with flow only. Then continued with RO/DI only for about 6 weeks with flow and heat at 80*F. I did a 100% water change each week after the bleaching stage.
Now I am cycling the rock in the same manner with flow, heat, but weekly 50% water changes.
EDIT: I did not use salt during the curing stage. Switched to RO/DI and salt when I started cycling.
HawaiianReef
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Thanks Caveman. That's PERFECT
I asked this because I have been curing 2 batches of rock, one heated one not, both being circulating and the one with at 78* still has some green color on it. They both have been going for just over 2 months.
I have cured some used sand. The smell got so bad and the water was black so I gave up on it and just left it, with a pump running. About 3 months later, the water was crystal clear. I was amazed.
I'd like to just go into the bleach method. But we just got about 4 inches of snow. I'll have to wait at least 3 weeks before I can go that route. But I will be ready for it now. Huge Thanks!
I asked this because I have been curing 2 batches of rock, one heated one not, both being circulating and the one with at 78* still has some green color on it. They both have been going for just over 2 months.
I have cured some used sand. The smell got so bad and the water was black so I gave up on it and just left it, with a pump running. About 3 months later, the water was crystal clear. I was amazed.
I'd like to just go into the bleach method. But we just got about 4 inches of snow. I'll have to wait at least 3 weeks before I can go that route. But I will be ready for it now. Huge Thanks!
