To cure or not to cure....

[mpjmeyer]

Finally getting closer to adding water to my tank. Ordered 65lbs of Fiji live dry rock today from BRS and have a question. In the questions asked from consumers in regards to this product, one of the most common is the curing question. BRS suggests to cure the rock in an established tank and no need to cure for a tank without water yet. Is this accurate? I suppose it has to do with the bacteria helping the tank cycle??

Also is there a good epoxy I can pick up at HD to hep hold a structure together?

Thank you

 

[Elementalj]

I'd still cure it in a tub of seawater all by itself. From what the doc has said, they can leach silicate and phosphate into the water.

 

[GoVols]

I'd still cure it in a tub of seawater all by itself. From what the doc has said, they can leach silicate and phosphate into the water.

+1
If you don't cure it out of the tank or do something like a acid wash, it will leach and... instant hair algae in your main display.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Simply set up the tank and it will cure while it is cycling....but might just take a little more time, dependent on how dirty the rock is. Monitor nitrates and phosphates and if and when they get high, do water changes. Just don't confuse the presence of nitrate with your cycle being complete.

As far as an HD epoxy, Rectorseal EP 200 or 400 epoxy sticks. To help hold the rock together and aligned, use cut pieces of plastic hangers and using a masonry bit to drill holes in opposing pieces of rock. A little epoxy and the plastic rod will hold that rock together.

 

[GoVols]

Simply set up the tank and it will cure while it is cycling....but might just take a little more time, dependent on how dirty the rock is. Monitor nitrates and phosphates and if and when they get high, do water changes. Just don't confuse the presence of nitrate with your cycle being complete.

As far as an HD epoxy, Rectorseal EP 200 or 400 epoxy sticks. To help hold the rock together and aligned, use cut pieces of plastic hangers and using a masonry bit to drill holes in opposing pieces of rock. A little epoxy and the plastic rod will hold that rock together.

@redfishbluefish
Do you store water to calibrate your refractometer?