Curing fresh water rock

[BDV0128]

How do I go about curing rock that came from a fresh water tank. The rock is Pukani. It is also been dried out for a week.

 

[RamsReef]

Are you adding the rock into a new system or old system? I like to use a big box store 20 gallon container or brute trashcan with;
Salt water at 1.025, a heater, and pump.

If you live in a cold climate you can double up the bins for insulation.

 

[OutsideBrian]

If you wanted to etch it clean you could soak it in muriatic acid / water, be careful and use Ppe.
If you just wanted to kill anything living, bleach and water will work.

I don’t have a whole lot of experience though

 

[BDV0128]

New system. Nothing in the tank at all right now.

 

[RamsReef]

I would just chuck the rock in, if it is from Fresh Water salt will purify it anyways.

Let it sit in tank and cure it there. Pump, Heat, No light.

Drop some DR Tims ammonia in there along with some Fritz 9.

Let it sit for a couple months.

Add a little photo period over the next month.

Golden.

 

[BDV0128]

Do you aquascape before or after curing the rock?

 

[RamsReef]

before, get it all set up and let her simmer :)

 

[BDV0128]

Do you have a glue recommendation

 

[RamsReef]

No glue, stack it so it sits good.

If you need to glue rocks together go get some hydralic cement from big box store.

 

[theatrus]

I’d avoid glue as well. Using cement is good, as is using acrylic or other plastic rods drilled through the rock. Epoxy and rockwork is kinda hit and miss, though does work.

 

[BDV0128]

I would have never thought of cement.