Oversized Heater

[dugthefish]

Curing some live rock in a 20g rubbermaid with a spare 300W heater. Do we have any concerns?

 

[mygsris2slo4u]

I wouldn’t worry about it. The temp while curing rock is not very critical.

 

[Hitman]

Don’t see a reason to use a heater during this step as long as the water is inside and room temp. I see your up in Iowa so if it’s outside then I would just keep it around 65-70 and your good.

 

[dugthefish]

Don’t see a reason to use a heater during this step as long as the water is inside and room temp. I see your up in Iowa so if it’s outside then I would just keep it around 65-70 and your good.

It's in my basement, which is probably in the low 60s. Got some rock from a guy parting out a 250 he picked up for next to nothing. Looks like it'd been in a tank for a couple years, but sitting in a garbage can of cold, dirty water for at least a month. I'd like to take as good a care of it as possible.

 

[Hitman]

Personally I think it will be just fine in your basement with no heater as your just curing it. Once it’s in your tank and your starting your cycle then I would have the heater running. With that said I do not see a issue heating the rock while it’s curing just don’t go much high r then you plan to have your tank. If you plan to run your tank at 78* that’s what I would have the heaters set at if that makes sense.

 

[don_chuwish]

Looks like it'd been in a tank for a couple years, but sitting in a garbage can of cold, dirty water for at least a month. I'd like to take as good a care of it as possible.

I'd want to clean it thoroughly first, avoid inheriting any unknown issues from its previous life. My favorite method to clean & cure used rock:

Bleach, vinegar, either/or/both all good, but I like vinegar.
I basically do it by feel, but typically is 24 hrs in vinegar:water, maybe 1:5 or so, with a powerhead for movement.
Blast the rocks clean with a hose and inspect, pull off, scrub off anything that's not rock.
If any look like they need more, do another 24 hrs.
Hose off again and inspect.
Then you can start on curing, first with RO, then heated salt water.
I used a tote bin and covered it with styrofoam insulation. This keeps everything in the dark, helps maintain temperature and almost eliminates evaporation loss.
Do weekly 100% water changes and testing for nitrate/phosphate until the water stays clean.
My rock was in that tub for months before it went in the tank.

 

[dugthefish]

I'd want to clean it thoroughly first, avoid inheriting any unknown issues from its previous life. My favorite method to clean & cure used rock:

Bleach, vinegar, either/or/both all good, but I like vinegar.
I basically do it by feel, but typically is 24 hrs in vinegar:water, maybe 1:5 or so, with a powerhead for movement.
Blast the rocks clean with a hose and inspect, pull off, scrub off anything that's not rock.
If any look like they need more, do another 24 hrs.
Hose off again and inspect.
Then you can start on curing, first with RO, then heated salt water.
I used a tote bin and covered it with styrofoam insulation. This keeps everything in the dark, helps maintain temperature and almost eliminates evaporation loss.
Do weekly 100% water changes and testing for nitrate/phosphate until the water stays clean.
My rock was in that tub for months before it went in the tank.

Yeah, but....doesn't that pretty much kill EVERYTHING? I didnt buy live rock to turn it into dead rock to turn it back into live rock...

 

[don_chuwish]

Yeah, but....doesn't that pretty much kill EVERYTHING? I didnt buy live rock to turn it into dead rock to turn it back into live rock...

Yep! Including the pests & nasty algae you don't want. It then becomes live again just fine. But up to you!