Cooking dry dead rock

fishkeeprian · 01/11/2018, 04:13 AM

Hello,

Yesterday I added my Pukani rock to a tub with saltwater heater and wavemaker to start curing it.

The rock is dry and dead and has dead matter on it. I pressure washed it to remove the crap on the outside.

I have put in some live rock in from my QT holding tank along with some ceramic rings to help the bacteria population to colonize quicker.

Should I ghost feed or add some household Ammonia, or leave it to do its thing now?

When should I start testing the parameters?

Thanks

hijinks · 01/11/2018, 04:37 AM

I would give that rock a bleach bath before I did anything. If you dont get down to 0 in phosphates, pukani rock and leech phosphates out for 6-8 months even after its "cured"

You need to take your time with that rock or you'll have big time algae issues

fishkeeprian · 01/11/2018, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hijinks

I would give that rock a bleach bath before I did anything. If you dont get down to 0 in phosphates, pukani rock and leech phosphates out for 6-8 months even after its "cured"

You need to take your time with that rock or you'll have big time algae issues

I'm not going down the chemical route. I'm in no rush with this tank at all, once phosphates start registering I'm going to run two reactors in Rowaphos in to help tackle any issues.

mcgyvr · 01/11/2018, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkeeprian

I have put in some live rock in from my QT holding tank along with some ceramic rings to help the bacteria population to colonize quicker.

Should I ghost feed or add some household Ammonia, or leave it to do its thing now?

When should I start testing the parameters?

Thanks

You really did all you need to do..
The live rock/rings will likely have all the bacteria needed..
Just let it be and you can start testing in a few days for phosphates,etc...

Note.. Due to the addition of the live rock/rings and the fact it was dry rock that was powerwashed you may not see a cycle..

You can certainly ghost feed if you want but its probably not needed at all..

jda · 01/11/2018, 09:54 AM

They dead rock will have enough organics to feed any cycle. You can cure it just like you do regular rock, it just takes a lot longer.

I would not waste any test kits until the ammonia smell goes away - it might take a while for it to emerge.

fishkeeprian · 01/12/2018, 01:57 AM

Can I keep a tight lid on the tub or would it be better loose or without?

Green Chromis · 01/12/2018, 06:46 AM

It, would be better without, or loose, better aeriation. Just curious, why are you using dead rock?

fishkeeprian · 01/12/2018, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Chromis

It, would be better without, or loose, better aeriation. Just curious, why are you using dead rock?

Hello,

A few reasons,

Wanted to start with a clean tank, try and introduce what I wanted (to a point)
Wanted time to play around with the scape without die off issues.
Cheaper than live rock
Pukani more readily available in dry than live.

oldhead · 01/12/2018, 12:58 PM

Honestly my pukani only took about 3 weeks and 2 doses of lanthanum chloride to get phosphates to zero on a salfert test kit. After that I put it in my display and waited for the cycle to be done. I didn't want the acid look or the bleached white look. Actually the snail tracks across the rock show up really white.

saf1 · 01/12/2018, 04:21 PM

Just received 150 LBS of dry Pukani this morning. Some very large boulders - sure glad my tank has enough depth otherwise I'd be sawing this stuff in half. Based on what I've seen I'm going to just rinse it off. Anything loose in there I'm fine with it falling on the bottom. Any old or dried up stuff still on should come off during normal hose washing and visual inspection.

My plan is to get it set up the way I want the aquascape, then visit the butcher / seafood counter, order a single prawn, and then toss it in. Lights and skimmer off but will run plumbing and Sea Swirls for water movement. Test in a week and see what happens from there.

fishkeeprian · 01/13/2018, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saf1

Just received 150 LBS of dry Pukani this morning. Some very large boulders - sure glad my tank has enough depth otherwise I'd be sawing this stuff in half. Based on what I've seen I'm going to just rinse it off. Anything loose in there I'm fine with it falling on the bottom. Any old or dried up stuff still on should come off during normal hose washing and visual inspection.

My plan is to get it set up the way I want the aquascape, then visit the butcher / seafood counter, order a single prawn, and then toss it in. Lights and skimmer off but will run plumbing and Sea Swirls for water movement. Test in a week and see what happens from there.

This is my first Ammonia test.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cmdfbmpwxt...05206.jpg?dl=0

And I didn't add any thing to the tub on some already live rock.

I am assuming it's started its cycle?

hijinks · 01/13/2018, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkeeprian

This is my first Ammonia test.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cmdfbmpwxt...05206.jpg?dl=0

And I didn't add any thing to the tub on some already live rock.

I am assuming it's started its cycle?

Yes you have ammonia in the water now. The next step is the bacteria will develop to convert the ammonia.

oldhead · 01/13/2018, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saf1

Just received 150 LBS of dry Pukani this morning. Some very large boulders - sure glad my tank has enough depth otherwise I'd be sawing this stuff in half. Based on what I've seen I'm going to just rinse it off. Anything loose in there I'm fine with it falling on the bottom. Any old or dried up stuff still on should come off during normal hose washing and visual inspection.

My plan is to get it set up the way I want the aquascape, then visit the butcher / seafood counter, order a single prawn, and then toss it in. Lights and skimmer off but will run plumbing and Sea Swirls for water movement. Test in a week and see what happens from there.

You won't need anything from the butcher. There is plenty of dead stuff on that rock that you won't get to to start the cycle. And get ready for yellow stinky water.

saf1 · 01/13/2018, 01:06 PM

@oldhead - way to rat me out. My better half just passed by while I was catching up on this thread and saw your post

Step back and said - babe, you forget to tell me about the possible stink???

Yeah - you are right though of course.

outy · 01/13/2018, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkeeprian

Wanted to start with a clean tank, try and introduce what I wanted (to a point)
.

No need to get that caught up in it all.

Unwanted crap comes whether you want it or not

01/11/2018, 04:13 AM	#1
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	Cooking dry dead rock Hello, Yesterday I added my Pukani rock to a tub with saltwater heater and wavemaker to start curing it. The rock is dry and dead and has dead matter on it. I pressure washed it to remove the crap on the outside. I have put in some live rock in from my QT holding tank along with some ceramic rings to help the bacteria population to colonize quicker. Should I ghost feed or add some household Ammonia, or leave it to do its thing now? When should I start testing the parameters? Thanks

01/12/2018, 06:46 AM	#7
Green Chromis Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: miami,florida Posts: 640	It, would be better without, or loose, better aeriation. Just curious, why are you using dead rock? __________________ Natural Reefer Current Tank Info: 600 gallon Carribean Reef System, ETSS Protein Skimmer, 1.5HP Tradewinds Chiller, Reef Breeders Photon V2+ LED Lighting For The Refugium, Mitra LX7206 LED Lights For Display Tank

01/12/2018, 04:21 PM	#10
saf1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2,259	Just received 150 LBS of dry Pukani this morning. Some very large boulders - sure glad my tank has enough depth otherwise I'd be sawing this stuff in half. Based on what I've seen I'm going to just rinse it off. Anything loose in there I'm fine with it falling on the bottom. Any old or dried up stuff still on should come off during normal hose washing and visual inspection. My plan is to get it set up the way I want the aquascape, then visit the butcher / seafood counter, order a single prawn, and then toss it in. Lights and skimmer off but will run plumbing and Sea Swirls for water movement. Test in a week and see what happens from there. __________________ -saf1 Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef

01/13/2018, 01:06 PM	#14
saf1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2,259	@oldhead - way to rat me out. My better half just passed by while I was catching up on this thread and saw your post Step back and said - babe, you forget to tell me about the possible stink??? Yeah - you are right though of course. __________________ -saf1 Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef

01/11/2018, 04:37 AM	#2
hijinks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 505	I would give that rock a bleach bath before I did anything. If you dont get down to 0 in phosphates, pukani rock and leech phosphates out for 6-8 months even after its "cured" You need to take your time with that rock or you'll have big time algae issues

01/11/2018, 09:54 AM	#5
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	They dead rock will have enough organics to feed any cycle. You can cure it just like you do regular rock, it just takes a lot longer. I would not waste any test kits until the ammonia smell goes away - it might take a while for it to emerge.

01/12/2018, 01:57 AM	#6
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	Can I keep a tight lid on the tub or would it be better loose or without?

01/12/2018, 12:58 PM	#9
oldhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 527	Honestly my pukani only took about 3 weeks and 2 doses of lanthanum chloride to get phosphates to zero on a salfert test kit. After that I put it in my display and waited for the cycle to be done. I didn't want the acid look or the bleached white look. Actually the snail tracks across the rock show up really white.