Curing Rock in Winter

[JackalCackal]

Its currently freezing here and I just got my Pukani. I wanted to first do a couple days in bleach e he salt water cure. I am reading that bleaching can let off dangerous gases and has to be done outside.

I’m worried about it freezing obviously. Any suggestions?

 

[Tallison]

I was lucky and dried mine out right as the cold front was coming in. If you're getting pretty good su then you can lay them out when you get the opportunity. Mine dried out a week and was good. Beyond that you could buy some cheap lights for reptiles and keep them under that then return them after a week

 

[Tallison]

I was lucky and dried mine out right as the cold front was coming in. If you're getting pretty good su then you can lay them out when you get the opportunity. Mine dried out a week and was good. Beyond that you could buy some cheap lights for reptiles and keep them under that then return them after a week

 

[JackalCackal]

I was lucky and dried mine out right as the cold front was coming in. If you're getting pretty good su then you can lay them out when you get the opportunity. Mine dried out a week and was good. Beyond that you could buy some cheap lights for reptiles and keep them under that then return them after a week

Dried it or cured it? I need to bleach it for a couple of days.

 

[Tallison]

Sorry should specify. I also bleached with a mix of tap water, dried outside till no longer wet and then dropped it in RO with a power head and heater for a month. I'd just go till your phosphates are in an acceptable range and you're no longer getting that yellow water

 

[mcarroll]

bleaching your rock? just curious why?

 

[domination2580]

I do it to kill everything on it

 

[mcarroll]

Still not getting it. Is this rock dry to begin with, or live? Why does anything need to be killed on it?

 

[don_chuwish]

Dry 'dead' rock from the ocean like Pukani or Fiji usually has all kinds of dead organics on it. Bleaching & rinsing well helps remove organics as well as being extra certain there aren't any dormant baddies embedded in it.
BRS did a whole video on various methods, 'natural' vs bleaching vs acid. Good info.

 

[don_chuwish]

To the Op, I would say do a vinegar soak indoors - garage if possible just because of the smell. Save the bleaching for later if you still want to do it.
Vinegar & tap water - not sure of the ratio, I just kinda winged it. Maybe 1gal vinegar to 5 gallons water. Circulation. Give it a day or two then hose it off really well. Repeat if you think it needs it.
I never did bleach, just the vinegar. Then natural cure in a tub after that - plenty of water changes until it started staying clean. My rock has been fantastic (mix of 'reef saver' and Fiji dry).

 

[JackalCackal]

bleaching your rock? just curious why?

If you don’t, all the organic matter will leach phosphates and you will have algae and other problems to fight. You can soak in heated saltwater for weeks\months (results vary) but first soaking in a 1/10 bleach solution for a couple days to a week will help speed up that process.

 

[JackalCackal]

To the Op, I would say do a vinegar soak indoors - garage if possible just because of the smell. Save the bleaching for later if you still want to do it.
Vinegar & tap water - not sure of the ratio, I just kinda winged it. Maybe 1gal vinegar to 5 gallons water. Circulation. Give it a day or two then hose it off really well. Repeat if you think it needs it.
I never did bleach, just the vinegar. Then natural cure in a tub after that - plenty of water changes until it started staying clean. My rock has been fantastic (mix of 'reef saver' and Fiji dry).

I read somewhere that if doing vinegar, mixing it with water would make it not work. How long did you keep it in saltwater?

 

[mcarroll]

wow

 

[siggy]

I cured LR last winter in my garage, I set the tub on 3/4" plywood I bought a aquatop 500w titanium heater and threw in an old power head worked fine. Make sure you disable the big doors, kids may not remember that you have something cooking. just a thought styrofoam construction sheeting is cheap............Good Luck

 

[JackalCackal]

I cured LR last winter in my garage, I set the tub on 3/4" plywood I bought a aquatop 500w titanium heater and threw in an old power head worked fine. Make sure you disable the big doors, kids may not remember that you have something cooking. just a thought styrofoam construction sheeting is cheap............Good Luck

You did it in the garage with bleach? Did you notice bad fumes?

 

[siggy]

No Just saltwater... What are you planning 1-gallon bleach to 10 or 15 gallons water for a day or two . give it a go and if you have problems dump it , cheap try.

 

[JackalCackal]

No Just saltwater... What are you planning 1-gallon bleach to 10 or 15 gallons water for a day or two . give it a go and if you have problems dump it , cheap try.

My original issue was whether or no I can do this in the garage since it’s freezing out. I read that the bleaching caus dangerous gases.

 

[don_chuwish]

I read somewhere that if doing vinegar, mixing it with water would make it not work. How long did you keep it in saltwater?

It just makes it weaker and saves on vinegar. You could certainly go stronger but after 2 days circulating I was able to hose off all kinds of melted crud and get the rocks looking 'new'.
The natural cure phase I had lots of time, so they were in the saltwater tub for at least 6 weeks. I put some styrofoam under the tub to insulate from the cold concrete, and made a styrofoam lid for the tub too. No light at all. For heat I really like the Aqueon preset 78 degree ones for this non-critical task.

 

[Heart of Dixie]

I cured 50 pounds of BRS Pukani 1 year ago using: a week soak in saltwater with daily water changes until the yellow color cleared up, then placed the rock in a covered container, warm saltwater, a 900 gph pump for circulation, numerous water changes, skimmer, Seaclear, and time. I think this rock is so porous that a quick soak just cannot get deep enough to get everything. It took from January 14 to April 22 before the phosphate level was down below .03. The rock then went into the DT and was fully fully cured and ready for a small portion of CUC on June 9. The rock is beautiful and worth the wait.