Dry Rock Cure - PH question.

[Jay_M]

Hello all,

I am currently just shy of a month into a dry rock cure and have a quick question as this is my first time curing dry rock.

I am currently no longer registering ammonia, my nitrites are going down and my nitrates, to my eye, are unreadable but exist.

I have not performed a water change as i am just letting the rock run it's course.

MY MAIN QUESTIONS: my ph was lower than the test could read on the 23rd, but was 7.6 on the 27th. This may have been due to me replenishing evap. What should I be expecting/ looking for in the realm of PH? Will the PH be low due to the rock being in a 35 gal tote with a lid on it?


Should I be doing water changes?

 

[nervousmonkey]

The pH is low simply because of the nitrogen cycle. It'll straighten up on it's own, as you saw a few days later. You can change the water and it will most likely help with NO3 levels, although you can develop a bacterial culture in the anoxic zones of the rock if you leave it alone and allow bacteria to populate the rock that converts NO3 into N2 gas; you will be doing yourself a huge favor in the future by doing this. There are two camps essentially: use a run of the mill skimmer and allow the LR to convert the nitrates, or get a really nice expensive skimmer that can skim out more than a run of the mill skimmer. Or you can do both!

 

[Jay_M]

So my thought was to let the rock stay in the same water, and just let it ride but I was concerned about PH. So if I let this run, there will be no more organics causing ammonia therefor eventually the (short version) the nitrates will start dropping also due to being converted to gas and no fuel to make more (no ammonia or nitrites)

 

[Jay_M]

I have 3 power heads, on bottom, one half way, one on surface (probably overkill) and a heater.

 

[nervousmonkey]

So my thought was to let the rock stay in the same water, and just let it ride but I was concerned about PH. So if I let this run, there will be no more organics causing ammonia therefor eventually the (short version) the nitrates will start dropping also due to being converted to gas and no fuel to make more (no ammonia or nitrites)

It takes a long time to develop the bacteria that converts NO3 to N2 gas, but essentially yes, once that population is established, you'll see nitrates drop. There is no harm in having high nitrates while you're curing. Denitrifying bacteria help, as well as live phytoplankton which use an enzyme called nitrate reductase to convert to N2 gas. It can take a LONG time to establish these, but some guys have come up with some DIY methods for culturing them and then adding to tank or curing rock.

 

[Jay_M]

It takes a long time to develop the bacteria that converts NO3 to N2 gas, but essentially yes, once that population is established, you'll see nitrates drop. There is no harm in having high nitrates while you're curing. Denitrifying bacteria help, as well as live phytoplankton which use an enzyme called nitrate reductase to convert to N2 gas. It can take a LONG time to establish these, but some guys have come up with some DIY methods for culturing them and then adding to tank or curing rock.

What would you do in this situation. Do water change to get nitrates down, or let ride because there is still nitrites. And if you would let it ride, what would you be looking for to know when it's done and ready to be moved to the tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Id wait 30 days, just because. or add ammonia and test it. I wouldn't do a wc yet or d0 30 to 50% and add bacteria.
are you adding it to an established tank? have you been ghost feeding? how did you start the cycle. the bacteria does need nitrates. so does coral.
don't sweat the ph.

 

[nervousmonkey]

+1. Just follow @saltyfilmfolks advice. Don't worry about much right now. The longer you cure, the more established the rock becomes.

 

[Jay_M]

Id wait 30 days, just because. or add ammonia and test it. I wouldn't do a wc yet or d0 30 to 50% and add bacteria.
are you adding it to an established tank? have you been ghost feeding? how did you start the cycle. the bacteria does need nitrates. so does coral.
don't sweat the ph.

My tank is sitting at someone's store, waiting to be purchased once I make up my mind.

So right now I have a tub of rocks.

I have done nothing but soak these rocks, which have all came out of existing tank from back in the day. So it's not brand new dry rock never used, all this rock had came from a very established tank, then dried out.

No ghost feeding, no additives.

I'm trying to be ready for when the tank gets here which is why I have them soaking, in just trying to pin point where I am in the process lol as I've never cured dry rock.

 

[Jay_M]

+1. Just follow @saltyfilmfolks advice. Don't worry about much right now. The longer you cure, the more established the rock becomes.

I totally agree, it's just, when do I get to move it to a tank lol. And start that process of cycling the actual tank.

 

[Jay_M]

I appreciate both of yalls advice by the way. Just trying to formulate a plan/ timeline.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Yeah, you are fine. By curing it like this in saltwater prior to putting it in your tank, you are sidestepping the cycle because your LR will already be populated with the proper bacteria. Like Salty said, add something that provides ammonia, like fish food, or pure ammonia, to let it continue to cycle and increase the bacterial population. As he stated, you can also do that with bacteria in a bottle along with feeding them something.
You won't have a cycle in your tank, or if you do, it will only be because ammonia producing creatures were added too quickly for the bacterial population to grow and match the needs of nitrification of the ammonia and nitrites into nitrates...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

And start that process of cycling the actual tank.

you already started. thats half the work IMO. Must nor have been a lot of organics on that rock. Mine STANK! when it stopped stinking i did a water change and fed the bucket. Very scientific I know.

Just trying to formulate a plan/ timeline.

Xmas. fish by Jan 15th 0r 30th.
@nervousmonkey that or a bit later perhaps ya think?

 

[nervousmonkey]

I agree @saltyfilmfolks . Don't rush the tank and you'll be much happier down the road. Just change one variable at a time so you can see what is working and what isn't working. Keep those rocks curing, then add to your tank, then by mid-January add a couple fish then later in the month add some more.

 

[Jay_M]

you already started. thats half the work IMO. Must nor have been a lot of organics on that rock. Mine STANK! when it stopped stinking i did a water change and fed the bucket. Very scientific I know.

Xmas. fish by Jan 15th 0r 30th.
@nervousmonkey that or a bit later perhaps ya think?

So before I was told, once ammonia spikes and fades, then nitrite spikes and fades and all that remains is nitrates, your tank is cycled.

So I'm almost cycled, I just need to be ghost feeding to feed the bacteria so I don't lose progress, am I gathering that correctly?

 

[nervousmonkey]

Very scientific I know.

HAHA! Came right out of text book on marine biology, right? I think I've read that too.

 

[nervousmonkey]

So before I was told, once ammonia spikes and fades, then nitrite spikes and fades and all that remains is nitrates, your tank is cycled.

So I'm almost cycled, I just need to be ghost feeding to feed the bacteria so I don't lose progress, am I gathering that correctly?

Yep, you got it bud!

 

[Jay_M]

I do have a pretty interesting film covering the surface of the water when I kill the PH.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I do have a pretty interesting film covering the surface of the water when I kill the PH.

food. rock dust fluoride silicates minerals, you know sea foam!

 

[Jay_M]

Not to change the direction of this thread, but I am thinking of ordering the 150 pnp kit from scaquariums. Do either of you have any experience with this company?