How often do I test for phos while soaking pukani?

SallyWho · May 6, 2018

I spent a couple of months soaking pukani in tap water from the garden hose, draining it every week or two. Then, due to a cold snap and the knowledge that I'd neglect it, I drained the barrel and let it sit dry for a couple of months. Last week, I filled it back up with RODI water and tossed a small powerhead in there. I want to see if I can get all the yucky and leachy stuff out before I put it to use. So how often should I test for phosphates? I'm not curing it in saltwater, just RODI for now. Once a week? Every other week? Water changes only if phosphates are high? TIA!

Picesduh · May 6, 2018

Test every week - I've always cured in salt water.
Where did you but the pukani - can't find it anymore....

SallyWho · May 6, 2018

Picesduh said:
Test every week - I've always cured in salt water.
Where did you but the pukani - can't find it anymore....

I got it from BRS during their Black Friday sales. And I'm only curing it on RODI because I'm going to dry 'scape it before filling the tank. Curing it in saltwater would be pointless since it's going to be dry while I figure out how I want it (which will take days, because I kind of suck at this kind of thing!).

Razz · May 6, 2018

Yea, I understand about aquascaping...My ex was a great help with that. I'd set something up, she'd walk by and say "Looks man made" and keep walking...so I'd try again, and again, and again...lol

bhuyett · May 6, 2018

Sounds like you are working against yourself. No need to cure first, you are just creating more work and mess. Just take the Pukani and scape and cut holes in the rock how you want it. Once done, then Cure it with Saltwater. As stated, every week change the water out.
I placed mine in a 55 gallon barrel and cured the rock for over 11 weeks. Then added bacteria and cycled the rock, while I was plumbing my tank.

Are you planning on using Live or Dead sand or going bare bottom?

Jobet · May 6, 2018

Picesduh said:
Test every week - I've always cured in salt water.
Where did you but the pukani - can't find it anymore....

I just got 25lbs from MarineDepot.com

Idoc · May 6, 2018

I did it the same way that you are... and happy i did it that way. No use wasting saltwater when you are going to let it dry out again! I didn't even use RODI... used tap water with a dechlorinating agent. Throw in a heater and crank it to about 85 degrees to speed up the decay process. Watch the ammonia... that will tell you when to do a water change. I changed mine every day or two at first, then about weekly for about 6 weeks. I tested phosphates every few days at first, then weekly by the end. I threw in a bag of Phosguard in front of one of the powerheads... when phosphates would start to creep up again, i changed the phosguard. Once i want getting any more ammonia or phosphate rise, i figured i was done and took the rocks out to dry.

SallyWho · May 6, 2018

bhuyett said:
Sounds like you are working against yourself. No need to cure first, you are just creating more work and mess. Just take the Pukani and scape and cut holes in the rock how you want it. Once done, then Cure it with Saltwater. As stated, every week change the water out.
I placed mine in a 55 gallon barrel and cured the rock for over 11 weeks. Then added bacteria and cycled the rock, while I was plumbing my tank.

Are you planning on using Live or Dead sand or going bare bottom?

I'm using dry sand- Tropic Eden mesoflakes. The reason I'm doing it this way is because I don't want to waste water or salt, and I don't know when I'll actually get to set up the tank. If I can get as much of the phosphates out that pukani is famous of leaching, then I can drain the trash can the rock is in so I don't have to keep paying to heat it and keep doing water changes. Then I can aquascape at will when the time comes!

Idoc said:
I did it the same way that you are... and happy i did it that way. No use wasting saltwater when you are going to let it dry out again! I didn't even use RODI... used tap water with a dechlorinating agent. Throw in a heater and crank it to about 85 degrees to speed up the decay process. Watch the ammonia... that will tell you when to do a water change. I changed mine every day or two at first, then about weekly for about 6 weeks. I tested phosphates every few days at first, then weekly by the end. I threw in a bag of Phosguard in front of one of the powerheads... when phosphates would start to creep up again, i changed the phosguard. Once i want getting any more ammonia or phosphate rise, i figured i was done and took the rocks out to dry.

Hadn't thought about the phosgaurd! Good idea, thanks!

Jobet · May 6, 2018

SallyWho said:
I'm using dry sand- Tropic Eden mesoflakes. The reason I'm doing it this way is because I don't want to waste water or salt, and I don't know when I'll actually get to set up the tank. If I can get as much of the phosphates out that pukani is famous of leaching, then I can drain the trash can the rock is in so I don't have to keep paying to heat it and keep doing water changes. Then I can aquascape at will when the time comes!

Hadn't thought about the phosgaurd! Good idea, thanks!

Im looking for tropic eden dry mesoflake.....do you know where i can find some?

cmcoker · May 7, 2018

@Jobet
premiumaquatics.com is where I got my tropic eden sand.

SallyWho · May 7, 2018

Jobet said:
Im looking for tropic eden dry mesoflake.....do you know where i can find some?

+1 on Premium Aquatics.

https://premiumaquatics.com/category/dry-substrate.html?filter_brand_id=1008

Jobet · May 7, 2018

SallyWho said:
+1 on Premium Aquatics.

https://premiumaquatics.com/category/dry-substrate.html?filter_brand_id=1008

Im assuming that was a lil while ago because they appear to be out

SallyWho · May 7, 2018

Jobet said:
Im assuming that was a lil while ago because they appear to be out

Yeah, I scored some on Black Friday. You've got to keep an eye on it- when it does come in stock, it goes fast.

Picesduh · Jun 21, 2018

SallyWho said:
Yeah, I scored some on Black Friday. You've got to keep an eye on it- when it does come in stock, it goes fast.

Are sand siffters okay with the grain size?

SallyWho · Jun 21, 2018

Picesduh said:
Are sand siffters okay with the grain size?

I don't know yet- still haven't got the tank set up! But I've heard Mesoflakes is just fine for sandsifters.

MaddReefer · Jun 21, 2018

Watch This on Pukani

drtrash · Jun 21, 2018

So when is it cured? 0 phos?

User1 · Jun 21, 2018

This may be counter to what others said but I didn't test. Then again I had a different agenda going in knowing dry Pukani is phos Meca. Knowing that I unboxed, pressure washed, divided into 4 tubs, added tap water, cup or so of bleach, added power head, and let run 24 hours. Repeated this for 3 days. 4th day I emptied and refilled again with tap water but added lanthium chloride, power head, and run again for 24 hours. Did this for about 3 days. Drained all of that and then pressure washed and then into the tank for aquascape. Glued/epoxy what I needed to sit firmly together, added sand, started to fill with RI/RO instant ocean, turned on pumps, added some dechlorinator for safety, and run overnight. Checked in the morning, tested ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate since I was going to start a fishless cycle.

Personally speaking I didn't test for phos until tank was cycled and I moved over my 40 breeder. I know it is going to be high just like I know my tank is going to go through the ***** stage. So far everything seems to be progressing and in check managed by a reasonably undersized cleanup crew both carried over and few addon's.