Dry Rock Question

[JL15219]

I just got my dry rock from Addictive Reefkeeping, I just wanted to know if I had to do anything special to it before I put it in the tank? Or can I just rinse it with tap water, let it dry outside and start to setup the tank so I can get the cycling going? I'm ready to get this started already been waiting for the rock for almost a month...

This is the rock I bought:

ARK Hawaiian Reef Rock- PICK SIZE AND WEIGHT

addictivereefkeeping.com

 

[Saltyreef]

I just got my dry rock from Addictive Reefkeeping, I just wanted to know if I had to do anything special to it before I put it in the tank? Or can I just rinse it with tap water, let it dry outside and start to setup the tank so I can get the cycling going? I'm ready to get this started already been waiting for the rock for almost a month...

This is the rock I bought:

ARK Hawaiian Reef Rock- PICK SIZE AND WEIGHT

addictivereefkeeping.com

Yea i rinsed my marco off with the hose then soaked in DI water overnight before drying back out in my garage to start mortaring them together. After mortar cured, threw them in warm salt water to start the cycle.
Been curing for over 9 months in a brute can with no light before going in tank.

 

[JL15219]

Yea i rinsed my marco off with the hose then soaked in DI water overnight before drying back out in my garage to start mortaring them together. After mortar cured, threw them in warm salt water to start the cycle.
Been curing for over 9 months in a brute can with no light before going in tank.

What really? I have to put them in a brute trash can for over 9 months? I can't just rinse them and start the cycle in the tank? The tank is completely empty and will be doing a fishless cycle......

 

[Saltyreef]

What really? I have to put them in a brute trash can for over 9 months? I can't just rinse them and start the cycle in the tank? The tank is completely empty and will be doing a fishless cycle......

U can ya....your tank will take much longer to mature with dry rock vs liverock.
Liverock is an instant tank establisher.

Dry rock will take years to achieve the same level of biodiversity.

My liverock has been live for 10+ years. Just being in my custody. It was an established tank break down from a long time reefer so likely 20+ years live.
Theres about 15 types of sponges, countless other orgsnisms.
Weeded out most of the bad so far. Still working on the vermatids and majanos

 

[GaryE]

What really? I have to put them in a brute trash can for over 9 months? I can't just rinse them and start the cycle in the tank? The tank is completely empty and will be doing a fishless cycle......

I rinsed my dry rock , put it in my tank, put sand in and filled with salt water. Then cycled. No ill effects.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I generally rinse my dry rock and add liquid bacteria. Using a brute garbage can or large tub, submerge the entire rock in saltwater with a 1.021 - 1.025 gravity. Heat water to 80 degrees Fahrenheit to expedite the process. Keep the curing container away from direct lighting and completely change the water at least once a week. When the water chemistry tests zero for nitrite and ammonia, it’s ready to go in your tank.

 

[JL15219]

I generally rinse my dry rock and add liquid bacteria. Using a brute garbage can or large tub, submerge the entire rock in saltwater with a 1.021 - 1.025 gravity. Heat water to 80 degrees Fahrenheit to expedite the process. Keep the curing container away from direct lighting and completely change the water at least once a week. When the water chemistry tests zero for nitrite and ammonia, it’s ready to go in your tank.

What is the benefits of doing it this way as opposed just putting it in the tank and letting it cycle there? There won't be any lights on my tank till is cycled.....

 

[JL15219]

I rinsed my dry rock , put it in my tank, put sand in and filled with salt water. Then cycled. No ill effects.

How long has it been running?

 

[JL15219]

U can ya....your tank will take much longer to mature with dry rock vs liverock.
Liverock is an instant tank establisher.

Dry rock will take years to achieve the same level of biodiversity.

My liverock has been live for 10+ years. Just being in my custody. It was an established tank break down from a long time reefer so likely 20+ years live.
Theres about 15 types of sponges, countless other orgsnisms.
Weeded out most of the bad so far. Still working on the vermatids and majanos

Wow that's crazy cool....but 10 years wow!

 

[vetteguy53081]

What is the benefits of doing it this way as opposed just putting it in the tank and letting it cycle there? There won't be any lights on my tank till is cycled.....

You know the advantages of live rock. This will seed it to a point where pores are opened up sndcc by adding liquid bacteria will pre-seed it and allow cultures to become established as tank matures

 

[JL15219]

You know the advantages of live rock. This will seed it to a point where pores are opened up sndcc by adding liquid bacteria will pre-seed it and allow cultures to become established as tank matures

I understand that but what is the difference between putting it in a bucket as opposed to putting it in the tank? I dont understand that part lol

 

[jarviz]

Yea i rinsed my marco off with the hose then soaked in DI water overnight before drying back out in my garage to start mortaring them together. After mortar cured, threw them in warm salt water to start the cycle.
Been curing for over 9 months in a brute can with no light before going in tank.

you've been waiting for 9 months to start your tank?!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I understand that but what is the difference between putting it in a bucket as opposed to putting it in the tank? I dont understand that part lol

You don’t know what’s in those pores and rather than quick rinse , you are providing flow through holes and cavities flushing rock out and getting salt through the pores of the rock

 

[jarviz]

U can ya....your tank will take much longer to mature with dry rock vs liverock.
Liverock is an instant tank establisher.

Dry rock will take years to achieve the same level of biodiversity.

My liverock has been live for 10+ years. Just being in my custody. It was an established tank break down from a long time reefer so likely 20+ years live.
Theres about 15 types of sponges, countless other orgsnisms.
Weeded out most of the bad so far. Still working on the vermatids and majanos

How do you weed out the bad without weeding out the good? do you just manually pull them out by hand?

 

[jarviz]

I generally rinse my dry rock and add liquid bacteria. Using a brute garbage can or large tub, submerge the entire rock in saltwater with a 1.021 - 1.025 gravity. Heat water to 80 degrees Fahrenheit to expedite the process. Keep the curing container away from direct lighting and completely change the water at least once a week. When the water chemistry tests zero for nitrite and ammonia, it’s ready to go in your tank.

I never understood this part. if you add dry rock and there's some die off, wouldn't that just add ammonia and help jumpstart the cycle?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I never understood this part. if you add dry rock and there's some die off, wouldn't that just add ammonia and help jumpstart the cycle?

The question is- what level of ammonia or even toxicity

 

[JL15219]

You don’t know what’s in those pores and rather than quick rinse , you are providing flow through holes and cavities flushing rock out and getting salt through the pores of the rock

Oh okay I see what you mean....so I would basically cycle in a container. I bought Dr. Tims one and only and the ammonia so I would basically do what I was planning to do in the tank but in a container? Would 5 gallon buckets work? The rock was never live rock it is carbonate limestone-structured aragonite that was quarried in Florida. They are supposedly professionally cleaned and dried. Then they add imitation coraline.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh okay I see what you mean....so I would basically cycle in a container. I bought Dr. Tims one and only and the ammonia so I would basically do what I was planning to do in the tank but in a container? Would 5 gallon buckets work? The rock was never live rock it is carbonate limestone-structured aragonite that was quarried in Florida. They are supposedly professionally cleaned and dried. Then they add imitation coraline.

Buckets will work

 

[JL15219]

How is there die off from dry rock if it was never alive? I don't understand

 

[jarviz]

The question is- what level of ammonia or even toxicity

does it matter at that point tho? i'm not trying be arrogant. i'm genuinely asking. There's nothing in the tank and you just let the cycle run it's course till you have 0 ammonia and nitrates no? didn't people used to throw an entire shrimp to jump start ammonia?