Curing Pukani Dry Rock

[Whipples]

Patience is the hardest part of this hobby :)

You're doing all the right steps with reactors and testing/tracking the metrics. Check out the aquaforest products if you ever want to cut down using reactors/GFO due to cost and just extra maintenance. I've been dosing their nitrate/phosphate reducing bacteria in addition to a refugium and having excellent results.

As for the rocks, there is probably enough material left on them to feed the bacteria in the cycle, but do try to pick up some janitorial ammonia so you can dose it and see how long it takes to be converted into nitrate. That is the best indicator as for how far into the cycling process you are. Feel free to start running the lights for your expected photoperiod which will cause a diatom bloom if you haven't had it already and potentially other things, but you can add a few snails to clear it up!

 

[Wavemode]

Patience is the hardest part of this hobby :)

You're doing all the right steps with reactors and testing/tracking the metrics. Check out the aquaforest products if you ever want to cut down using reactors/GFO due to cost and just extra maintenance. I've been dosing their nitrate/phosphate reducing bacteria in addition to a refugium and having excellent results.

As for the rocks, there is probably enough material left on them to feed the bacteria in the cycle, but do try to pick up some janitorial ammonia so you can dose it and see how long it takes to be converted into nitrate. That is the best indicator as for how far into the cycling process you are. Feel free to start running the lights for your expected photoperiod which will cause a diatom bloom if you haven't had it already and potentially other things, but you can add a few snails to clear it up!

Thank you for all the great advice! I have a 29 nano ready for about half the rocks. It's running with no lights and 100% new SW. I'll be putting the rocks in there this weekend and I'll start the light cycle. The rest can stay in the brute as they are for my established mixed reef. I have about a ten year supply of GFO / GAC for my mini reactor so I decided to stop the GFO and run just the carbon since all my phosphates were gone and not even my chaeto could be happy. I'll see if my local hardware store has janatorial ammonia to dose. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Evoguy]

When I was starting my system I used a 55 gallon drum and placed my 75lbs of aquascaped pukani in it. It was a long process but I placed a pump and heater in the drum. Then let the rock cure for 11 weeks. The first couple weeks I was pulling some crud out. Thick chunks of smelly foam. Then did multiple 50% water changes every 30 days.
Like others have said about just using bacteria. I just poured in some Microbactor7 and let it do its thing.

So I'm planning on getting some pukani rock and was wondering how did the whole cure process work out for you. I plan on doing the same curing process as you, I dnt really like the acid/bleach way . Thanks