Curing Pukani Rock

[FireEMT]

I am about to set up my first tank and will be ordering around 65lbs of Pukani. When I asked BRS if I should acid wash they advised against it because they said people have destroyed the structure of the Pukani before. They told me to cure it in SW for around 2 weeks and do a water change half way through.

What are peoples experience with curing Pukani and do you cure it in SW or just RODI water. If you cure in SW what salinity do you cure in? I was just thinking about saving salt as much as possible because of the cost. I guess I'm confused why it takes SW to cure the rock in the first place. Any thoughts would be great.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

I used the same amount of Pukani. I cured mine for 4 weeks in a brute trash can. I did use salt water as I think that is what the instructions stated.

So I used a Brute can, Salt water, and two heaters. The water in the can was around 90+ degrees.

As for Acid Washing, Pukani is very lightweight with many holes. So leaving Acid on them for an excessive period of time will pretty much melt it away.

 

[helmerbang]

Pukani is a great rock. I used one 30 pound piece in my 75 that you could hear shells rattling around inside it. I cured in totes for 2 weeks then aquascaped the tank and let it go for about a month without a light.
Pukani Boulder right there in the middle.

 

[Jlentz]

I did the acid wash. It made it look cooler.

I did the acid for about 45 min, then dumped a bunch of baking soda on it. After things settled down I did two water changes with the hose. Then bleach overnight.

After that I put it into a stock tank with rodi and started dosing LC. I did a few 100% water changes over the next month and then put it into the tank and started the cycle.

 

[FireEMT]

I used the same amount of Pukani. I cured mine for 4 weeks in a brute trash can. I did use salt water as I think that is what the instructions stated.

So I used a Brute can, Salt water, and two heaters. The water in the can was around 90+ degrees.

As for Acid Washing, Pukani is very lightweight with many holes. So leaving Acid on them for an excessive period of time will pretty much melt it away.

Did the heat help things along as far as the decomposing of the organics? Does anyone know why the salt water allows the organics to cycle, will tap water or RODI water do the same thing?

 

[fishmommy]

I cured mine in RO/DI with a powerhead for 12 weeks with 100% water change every week. I was still getting pretty high phosphate readings at the end but I used it anyway. The algae bloom lasted about 8 months.

 

[bnguyen714]

I didn't acid wash mine and I believe it was a mistake. I cannot scientifically prove it but I experienced major issues with hydroids and vermetids. I'm thinking there may have been "eggs" that hatched when saltwater was added similar to brine shrimp.

 

[FireEMT]

I didn't acid wash mine and I believe it was a mistake. I cannot scientifically prove it but I experienced major issues with hydroids and vermetids. I'm thinking there may have been "eggs" that hatched when saltwater was added similar to brine shrimp.

Good to know, Im not sure if there is a specific time frame to acid wash pukani but my guess is that it should be short because of the structure. I'm still looking researching why salt water is needed to cure the rock in the first place. I was also thinking about power washing it with a pressure washer.

 

[gpwdr]

I followed the BRS instructions on curing the Pukani Dry Rock.

 

[FireEMT]

I followed the BRS instructions on curing the Pukani Dry Rock.

How long did you let it soak in saltwater for? Did you do a water change more than just one time mid way through the process. Maybe the idea of cleaning and curing are two different things. I was thinking that soaking the rock before placing it in your tank was to make sure everything decomposes. Maybe soaking it in SW will cause good bacteria to start forming. Any thoughts

 

[gpwdr]

It soaked in salt water for about 4 weeks till the Nitrites read 0. You'l need some carbon for the smell. I would not do this in your tank. No water change. No light. You can keep it covered. BRS has a video with the instructions.

 

[FireEMT]

It soaked in salt water for about 4 weeks till the Nitrites read 0. You'l need some carbon for the smell. I would not do this in your tank. No water change. No light. You can keep it covered. BRS has a video with the instructions.

Awesome, thanks for the information. I guess I was trying to come up with a way to speed up the process. This is my first tank and I'm anxious to get things started.

 

[FireEMT]

It soaked in salt water for about 4 weeks till the Nitrites read 0. You'l need some carbon for the smell. I would not do this in your tank. No water change. No light. You can keep it covered. BRS has a video with the instructions.

Another question, what salinity did you soak it in?

 

[jabeuy]

I currently curing fiji dry live-rocks. Not pukani, but likely similar methods.

I mixed up saltwater at 1.025, put in my rocks with a power head. No heater, but its probably sitting around 74 degrees.

Phosphates started at around 2.0ppm. Forgot what the ammonia was, but the API test color was dark green.

I over dosed lanthanum chloride (ATM Agent Green) almost daily, and after a few weeks phosphates are now reading 0.02. Haven't checked ammonia since though.

 

[FireEMT]

I currently curing fiji dry live-rocks. Not pukani, but likely similar methods.

I mixed up saltwater at 1.025, put in my rocks with a power head. No heater, but its probably sitting around 74 degrees.

Phosphates started at around 2.0ppm. Forgot what the nitrates were, but the API test color was dark green.

I over dosed lanthanum chloride (ATM Agent Green) almost daily, and after a few weeks phosphates are now reading 0.02. Haven't checked nitrate since though.

Did you dose calcium with the agent green since it uses calcium to bind with the phosphate?

 

[jabeuy]

Did you dose calcium with the agent green since it uses calcium to bind with the phosphate?

No, didn't even know about that.
Perhaps reef crystals at 1.025 is enough calcium?

 

[Jlentz]

Did you dose calcium with the agent green since it uses calcium to bind with the phosphate?

I did sea clear LC in rodi. I'd not seen anything about needing calcium.

 

[cmcoker]

How long did you let it soak in saltwater for? Did you do a water change more than just one time mid way through the process. Maybe the idea of cleaning and curing are two different things. I was thinking that soaking the rock before placing it in your tank was to make sure everything decomposes. Maybe soaking it in SW will cause good bacteria to start forming. Any thoughts

Decomposing matter will lead to ammonia which can start the nitrogen cycle while you are soaking the rock to get the phosphates out. Just test for ammonia as you soak, and see how it goes.

Pukani is notorious for phosphate issues, so I am curing some now in 1.025 saltwater, room temp, skimmer on one bucket, powerhead in the other. Using lanthanum chloride for phosphates and doing occasional water change for other crud.

Last batch took 6 weeks or so of water changes to get phosphates down.... reason I'm using lanthanum this time.

 

[Hawain_Rob]

Awesome, thanks for the information. I guess I was trying to come up with a way to speed up the process. This is my first tank and I'm anxious to get things started.

Youll read around here alot that "speeding up things" in this hobby comes back to bite you on the butt. I should know. Better to take your time and do things rite.
Belive me you'll be happy you did.

 

[FireEMT]

Youll read around here alot that "speeding up things" in this hobby comes back to bite you on the butt. I should know. Better to take your time and do things rite.
Belive me you'll be happy you did.

Thanks, I kind of figured that out by reading some of the threads. I'm not in a rush for any reason other than I want an awesome tank like the ones I keep seeing all over these forums.