Pukani cook/cure

Sumguyy · Mar 27, 2018

I am preparing some dry pukani for a 34 gallon tank, 25 lbs. I didn’t really want to use acid on the rock, so I decided to soak it in bleach. I did a 10:1 ratio and planned on leaving it in the bleach for 3 days. I took the dead stuff off at best I could and cleaned the rock with tap water. Soaked it in tap water for 24 hours and cleaned it off again before adding it to the bleach.

I checked on it today (3rd day in) and there is still some coral and some purple stuff on the rocks. There is a lot of stuff in the bottom of the container that came off the rocks.

Question is do I keep them in the bleach, or move on to using the salt water/pump/heater part? Not really in a rush, just curious.

reefertank · Mar 27, 2018

Sumguyy said:
I am preparing some dry pukani for a 34 gallon tank, 25 lbs. I didn’t really want to use acid on the rock, so I decided to soak it in bleach. I did a 10:1 ratio and planned on leaving it in the bleach for 3 days. I took the dead stuff off at best I could and cleaned the rock with tap water. Soaked it in tap water for 24 hours and cleaned it off again before adding it to the bleach.

I checked on it today (3rd day in) and there is still some coral and some purple stuff on the rocks. There is a lot of stuff in the bottom of the container that came off the rocks.

Question is do I keep them in the bleach, or move on to using the salt water/pump/heater part? Not really in a rush, just curious.

Pictures?

NY_Caveman · Mar 27, 2018

Sumguyy said:
I am preparing some dry pukani for a 34 gallon tank, 25 lbs. I didn’t really want to use acid on the rock, so I decided to soak it in bleach. I did a 10:1 ratio and planned on leaving it in the bleach for 3 days. I took the dead stuff off at best I could and cleaned the rock with tap water. Soaked it in tap water for 24 hours and cleaned it off again before adding it to the bleach.

I checked on it today (3rd day in) and there is still some coral and some purple stuff on the rocks. There is a lot of stuff in the bottom of the container that came off the rocks.

Question is do I keep them in the bleach, or move on to using the salt water/pump/heater part? Not really in a rush, just curious.

For some dry Tonga shelf I did bleach for about 10 days, but only 20:1. (10:1 is fine too). Then soaked in RO/DI with dechlorinator for 2 weeks with a 100% water change in the middle. Then I cured the rock in RO/DI with 80* heat and MJ 1200 flow for about 6 weeks. Phosphate level dropped down to 0.1 ppm then and I switched to saltwater to begin cycling.

My understanding of Pukani is it may take even longer with all of the deep nooks and crannies.