How should I cure Marco rock?

[ImGood]

I'm hoping to pick a few brains ,I've got about 330 lbs of Marco rock,I'm planning on curing it prior to putting it in and cycling the tank (400g) what's the best way to cure it? I'm getting mixed messages, I'm told by one to soak it in fresh water for a week first, an other said to soak in salt for a month, some say with heaters and pumps , others not. I will be using live sand during the cycling, or perhaps there is a different methods,what is a proven method?

 

[Diesel]

There are different methods for curing rock.
The one I used is let it run for a week or so in a vat with a strong pump and a skimmer to pull out all the crap that comes off and out the rock.
It will help you a lot by cycling the rock which is when it is in your tank.

 

[ImGood]

Do you use fresh or salt water? Is the skimmer nessecary or would a water change mid week be adequate ?

 

[DanConnor]

Since marco rock is mined, it isn't going to have the organic gunk that dead or live rock would. Since it sounds like you are just starting your tank and probably will be doing a few water changes before you add any live animals, so I would go ahead and use it. Some phosphate might leach out of the rock at first, but I don't know if fresh water is any better than salt at getting it out. It is cheaper however.

 

[Lowstorm]

I'm cycling mine right now too. To establish bacteria, add an ammonia source. I'm down to feeding my tank every day or two, feeding the bacteria. I also got bac in a bottle, and an order of sludge and stuff from ipsf for more bacteria and... well... its mud lol

 

[Lowstorm]

Oh, and I did mine in tank, saltwater skimmer, etc. I'm already vinegar dosing and hope I can reduce nitrates before doing my first huge water change.

 

[justin.k.nelson]

I use Marco Rock and as mentioned earlier, its not living and so wouldn't produce an Dissolved Organics. I would just get a trashcan or put in your tank and add an amonium source to feed the bacteria. I would also either buy a really small piece of live rock or borrow some from a friend with a good tank (no pests or anything) and use that to seed the tank. GIve it a couple of weeks and test for Nitrates.

 

[sbash]

I like to cure my rock before putting it into my display tank. This should help to keep the system stable.

I have a 100L (about 25 Gallon) heavy duty storage bin, I use the water from my main tank if I can (my water changes are 10-20 gallons easily), but I have used fresh salt water, it should not matter. I add enough water to cover the live rock, then I add it. I put in the rest of the dry rock and add water until the rocks are fully submerged. Then every few days I add a couple feeding discs. I just use a powerhead and a heater, no skimmer or anything fancy. The powerhead needs to be near the surface of the water to ensure some aeration as well as to keep the water moving. If I am in a hurry to add the rocks to my DT, I will test for ammonia and nitrites, if not, then I will just keep feeding it and top the water up if needed. After a few months it seems fine to add to my tank.

 

[20LogR]

Marco rock is pretty clean, I've never had issue with just putting it in dry and starting the cycle. Of course you'll always get some amount of algae on any new dry rock, but it wasn't out of control. I've never used Pukani, but I heard its a mess for a long time. I would clean/cure that ahead of time.


IMO curing the rock ahead of time completes your initial cycle faster. As soon as you hit that rock with your lighting, it's going to start growing diatoms and hair algae all over it. It's just nature, you'll need months until you get that coralline going and keeping the algae at bay.

 

[ImGood]

Since marco rock is mined, it isn't going to have the organic gunk that dead or live rock would. Since it sounds like you are just starting your tank and probably will be doing a few water changes before you add any live animals, so I would go ahead and use it. Some phosphate might leach out of the rock at first, but I don't know if fresh water is any better than salt at getting it out. It is cheaper however.

 

[ImGood]

Oops, anyways I'm hoping to have the rock cured for Monday the 7th I have enough live sand (Fiji pink?) to cover the bottom 1-2" deep, which will be added prior to cycling the tank, I'm trying to figure out where the skimmer is going to fit in the sump, there is room for a refugium, as well, I've ordered a reef octopus 220 sss , I don't know, will 2 gyre power heads be enough?,how many fish, corals , or anemones can I expect to add once the tank has cycled?

 

[20LogR]

Even with a tank that big I would add fish slowly. Dump in a ton of fish and you're going to have problems

 

[ImGood]

I'm trying to avoid adding too many at once,when is a good time to add a cleaner crew? How many fish are too many?i don't want anything at this point that will grow larger than 7 " if we get them as juveniles,don't want overcrowding,planning on an eclectic mixture of livestock that we will have for years,I realize I'll be watching for a nitrate spike after they are added,but I'd still like to add enough reef life as reasonable with a fresh set up,some advice would be really nice

 

[ImGood]

Oh, and I did mine in tank, saltwater skimmer, etc. I'm already vinegar dosing and hope I can reduce nitrates before doing my first huge water change.

How long has it been since you started cycling the tank!

 

[fernalfer]

I'm in the same boat. I have Marco Rock also. I was cleaning my tank with vinegar by filling tank up and mixing with water with a power head. I was doing it for a leak test but decided to put my rocks in too. Maybe by soaking them in tap water and vinegar will help rid some phosphates. Then ill rinse the rock let them dry in the sun then transfer them over to a Brute bim with RODI saltwater and a power head and pump and will let them sit with 50% water changes every week or so. I will also dose the bin with DR. Tims bacteria and try cycling the rock before they are put in the tank meaning full off beneficial bacteria.

 

[20LogR]

I'm trying to avoid adding too many at once,when is a good time to add a cleaner crew? How many fish are too many?i don't want anything at this point that will grow larger than 7 " if we get them as juveniles,don't want overcrowding,planning on an eclectic mixture of livestock that we will have for years,I realize I'll be watching for a nitrate spike after they are added,but I'd still like to add enough reef life as reasonable with a fresh set up,some advice would be really nice

You can start adding CUC as soon as the tank cycles, but you don't want to add 100 snails without lots algae growing, you should balance your CUC for bioload. Everyone has opinions on their favorite snails/crabs for CUC, I vote for trying a mix and see what you like. Some people hate hermit crabs because they kill the snails. I enjoy them and always add a few.

If you have a plan on what fish you want, head over to the fish forums and see if you can get some help on what order you should add things. Generally, you want to start with docile(shy) fish first and work up to the more aggressive fish last.

 

[Lowstorm]

How long has it been since you started cycling the tank!

About a month. I made my tank really gross. My ammonia is at 0, nitrites dropping (.50 last I tested), nitrates sky high

Editing to add; went through a diatom bloom last week even. Gross is good.