New Live rock, how to cure?

[Lem]

I just ordered 40lbs of live rock from the Caribbean. I just got to my house and it is currently in my 29g quarantine/nothing in it yet tank. I am using the tank to cure the rock before putting it in my display tank, if I can get the browning problem from my previous thread under control. Some of the rock will stay in 29g tank so I can set it up as a fish only tank, I think. In with the new rocks are some hermits and some snails. The rock has some visible worms on it, some macro algae, coralline algae and some sponges. I am trying to keep as much of what is there as possible. Hoping the die off will fall off and that the hermits will help with eating that. Please advise on the hermits and snails. Dont want them eating away the good stuff.

Here are some picks of the new rock. (Wish my rocks in the display tank were as pretty and not nasty brown. blah)
Hers is the whole lot

The left side with all the macro algae

The right side with all the coralline algae and the sponges

And the middle with what looks like a little Ricordea or what is left of one right in the middle, you tell me...

Please advise on how to keep these just as beautiful as they are and keep their current growth, growing.

Thanks in advance.
Lem

 

[Trex]

I would do your best to limit the ammonia spike --- by doing a series of water changes. I have always done water changes when curing live rock (( as opposed to dry rock )), have had good luck in preserving most of the life on the rock.

 

[Lem]

I would do your best to limit the ammonia spike --- by doing a series of water changes. I have always done water changes when curing live rock (( as opposed to dry rock )), have had good luck in preserving most of the life on the rock.

So nothing else? Just the rock and water changes? Nothing eat dead stuff?

 

[Trex]

Sorry, should have explained more. I would treat it as if your tank had been running for months, water changes, skimmer, etc.

Use either a powerhead or turkey baster to blow off any detritus/dead stuff from the rocks.

Would hold off on adding any snails and the like for a bit, incase there is a spike that you miss.

 

[Duffam3434]

Sorry, should have explained more. I would treat it as if your tank had been running for months, water changes, skimmer, etc.

Use either a powerhead or turkey baster to blow off any detritus/dead stuff from the rocks.

Would hold off on adding any snails and the like for a bit, incase there is a spike that you miss.

Couldnt of said it better!

 

[Bigpapa1]

Make sure you try to mimic proper lightingng parameters. I have cured rock in a small tank with a not so good light and have bad some die off. IMO

 

[Bigpapa1]

That is some beefy looking rock btw. Good luck, It will definately help with the nitrates

 

[Mike J.]

I used 2 1/2 buckets of salt when I cured 165 pounds of live rock. It was worth it because I ended up with hundreds of hitchhikers including a dozen or so nice corals. This is the best article I know of on how to cure live rock. Live Rock - Curing Guidelines - Marine and Saltwater Aquarium

 

[Bigpapa1]

Mike. That is a great article, I will archive it til next time I'm ready!