How long should I soak my dry rock

[afamousjohnson]

Hey all - have a few structures made and sitting in water with powerheads. Wondering how long I should let them soak.

It is a mix of marco rock and tonga mostly. I did a muratic acid bath previous to putting together and used marco e-400 mortar for binding.
I used a mix of new salt water along with water change water out of my display. Will be putting these into a running system and they make up almost all the structure going in so a lot to add. Staggered the time I started soaking so will be placing 1 structure at a time a week apart from eachother. Just wondering with the previous process-how long I should be soaking.
Thanks in advance for input all.

 

[twilliard]

Hi!
Are you wanting to build bacteria on the rocks since it is going in a running system?

 

[afamousjohnson]

Not extremely worried about building the rock up before it goes in - more or less just dont want it screwing up my corals. It is basically a new scape taking over my old one so a large add in the end

 

[afamousjohnson]

Guess I should mention there is only a handful of rocks in system at the moment. They will still be staying in the system but will be moved to another tank on it.

 

[twilliard]

I would soak for a week with lots of flow give it a few dunks in new water to clear debris and good to go
I have done that a few times in my tank but my rock had to be cured as it wasn't dried.

 

[afamousjohnson]

nice - thanks for the insight twillard.

 

[redfishbluefish]

With dry rock, you first need to cure that rock. Curing allows the old death to leave the rock. You will see increases in nitrate and phosphate as the death leaves the rock. This could take around a month or so, but it will be water changes and testing that tells you that the rock is cured. Provide flow and temperature and you'll be good to go.....lights are not needed.

 

[afamousjohnson]

Ya I was wondering that. I would say a good 80% of rock used has not seen a system. Also along with the acid bath and rinse - think die off will be a prob? I will test it up either way.