Dry Rock Curing Before DRT?

[dms99]

Hello everyone,

Why do we need to cure dry rock before introducing them into the DT? Nitrifying bacteria should already be in the DT and will eventually reach the new dry rock without curing, no?

thank you!

 

[Idoc]

There's a difference between curing rock and cycling rock.

If you receive dirty live or dead rock with a lot of organic material in it, then curing the rock over time (with a lot of water changes) will remove that organic material out of the rock so as not to have huge ammonia spikes.

Cycling rock is more where you just keep the rock for 30 days in saltwater, temp controlled, and may be fed with a little ammonia to all the nitrifying bacteria to take residence in the rock after going through the nitrification process (ammonia to nitrites to nitrates). Or, many people just add bottled nitrifying bacteria to have a faster cycle.

 

[exnisstech]

I've never cured dry rock just rinse and place in the tank.

 

[dms99]

There's a difference between curing rock and cycling rock.

If you receive dirty live or dead rock with a lot of organic material in it, then curing the rock over time (with a lot of water changes) will remove that organic material out of the rock so as not to have huge ammonia spikes.

Cycling rock is more where you just keep the rock for 30 days in saltwater, temp controlled, and may be fed with a little ammonia to all the nitrifying bacteria to take residence in the rock after going through the nitrification process (ammonia to nitrites to nitrates). Or, many people just add bottled nitrifying bacteria to have a faster cycle.

Thank you. Yes why do we cycle dry rock? What is the science?

 

[dms99]

I've never cured dry rock just rinse and place in the tank.

Do you notice any parameters changes? Ammonia spikes? I am trying to understand why hobbyists cycle dry rock before introducing to DT.

 

[MnFish1]

Hello everyone,

Why do we need to cure dry rock before introducing them into the DT? Nitrifying bacteria should already be in the DT and will eventually reach the new dry rock without curing, no?

thank you!

you're correct. Depending if you're using the right term. Just put it in the tank. There is a lot of superstition about cooking vs curing vs some other process. In reality - 99% can just go in your tank. If PO4 leaches out - use a PO4 binder or water changes. What do you mean by 'curing' dry rock (your definition)

 

[carri10]

Thank you. Yes why do we cycle dry rock? What is the science?

The idea is to get a decent amount of bacterial film on the dry rock. This is partly to do with cycling, but you’ll have plenty of that in your tank. It is also to try and stop algae getting an easy hold on the rock. If it’s covered in a biofilm, then algae might have more difficulty getting a hold.

 

[exnisstech]

Do you notice any parameters changes? Ammonia spikes? I am trying to understand why hobbyists cycle dry rock before introducing to

I used dry rock when starting a new tank so im not really testing just waiting for the cycle using bottled bacteria or better yet I'll fill the sump with live rock. As mentioned above sometimes there is confusion between dry rock, live rock and dead live rock.

 

[Idoc]

Thank you. Yes why do we cycle dry rock? What is the science?

Because there could be some dried organics in the dry rock. I used dry pukani rock to start my tank and the pukani rock was full of extremely old sponges, etc... deep in the crevices. It stunk for several days while curing it and required at least one full water change per day...I cured it in a big tote bin. After about a week or so, the ammonia and dirt was finally reducing.