Hi! Extremely new reefer here!

[Macie]

Hey Guys!
I am an extremely new reefer who has found herself overwhelmed recently!
I would like to start my process now by starting the curing of the rock (dry) now, since it does take a few weeks to months, and I will purchase my tank at the beginning of the year.
I can't seem to find clear cut answers, directions, or steps on curing dry rock.
Here is my plan and please let me know what I am missing.
I plan on having a 60 gallon tank so..
50-60lbs of Marco's dry rock
Brute trash can
I need RO/DI system for my water
Salt
Mix the salt with the RO/DI filtered water
Put the rock into the mix with a heater and a pump for circulation..
Cover the trash can with a lid? or don't cover?
I plan on putting this in the garage since it will be stinky..
Will that be ok as there will be a heater in the water (and it is now winter)
Some people say to change out the water when it becomes stinky (do i do this)
Then once levels are tested and ready, I can add live bacteria and continue the curing cycle?

Please let me know, I am extremely open to feedback. I just want to do it right.
Thanks for reading and your advice!

 

[ScubaFish802]

 

[codycolina707]

Hey Guys!
I am an extremely new reefer who has found herself overwhelmed recently!
I would like to start my process now by starting the curing of the rock (dry) now, since it does take a few weeks to months, and I will purchase my tank at the beginning of the year.
I can't seem to find clear cut answers, directions, or steps on curing dry rock.
Here is my plan and please let me know what I am missing.
I plan on having a 60 gallon tank so..
50-60lbs of Marco's dry rock
Brute trash can
I need RO/DI system for my water
Salt
Mix the salt with the RO/DI filtered water
Put the rock into the mix with a heater and a pump for circulation..
Cover the trash can with a lid? or don't cover?
I plan on putting this in the garage since it will be stinky..
Will that be ok as there will be a heater in the water (and it is now winter)
Some people say to change out the water when it becomes stinky (do i do this)
Then once levels are tested and ready, I can add live bacteria and continue the curing cycle?

Please let me know, I am extremely open to feedback. I just want to do it right.
Thanks for reading and your advice!

Carbon inside you're filter sock or hob filter will eliminate alot of the smell and I dont change the water until the cycle is over

 

[MERKEY]

Hello and welcome to R2R!

 

[P-Dub]

WELCOME @Macie!!! As far as "clear-cut", there are many ways to skin a cat, not all necessary wrong or right, just different. Take a look at Cycling an Aquarium and The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium . Your plan sounds good. Feed your bacteria once established. The garage is fine with a heater and put a lid on it. When you think you are done cycling, wait a little longer, week or two, and test if things have changed. Change water or don't, up to you. I cycled for just under 4 months, changing 90% of the water twice. Take this process slow.

 

[WIReefer]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

Welcome!

 

[Ksull72487]

Ex

Hey Guys!
I am an extremely new reefer who has found herself overwhelmed recently!
I would like to start my process now by starting the curing of the rock (dry) now, since it does take a few weeks to months, and I will purchase my tank at the beginning of the year.
I can't seem to find clear cut answers, directions, or steps on curing dry rock.
Here is my plan and please let me know what I am missing.
I plan on having a 60 gallon tank so..
50-60lbs of Marco's dry rock
Brute trash can
I need RO/DI system for my water
Salt
Mix the salt with the RO/DI filtered water
Put the rock into the mix with a heater and a pump for circulation..
Cover the trash can with a lid? or don't cover?
I plan on putting this in the garage since it will be stinky..
Will that be ok as there will be a heater in the water (and it is now winter)
Some people say to change out the water when it becomes stinky (do i do this)
Then once levels are tested and ready, I can add live bacteria and continue the curing cycle?

Please let me know, I am extremely open to feedback. I just want to do it right.
Thanks for reading and your advice!

Well you ask a good question? Personally I try to buy cured rock to avoid this. But the bigger the tank gets the harder it is to do. Is your garage heated. If not you may have a slight problem. You’ll need an awfully big heater to keep that rock at reef temps in a cold garage. Now the rock will likely cylcle the problem comes in when you build the aquarium. Good bacteria could die off. If you do this in a garage I would make sure things are covered and as close to the door as possible where heat emits. Otherwise build your scape and cycle the tank as is. Yes a water change isn’t a bad thing either. Just less frequent when cycling live rock other wise you could stall the cycle.

 

[BackToTheReef]

 

[footgal]

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Jib]

Welcome. One thing I would recommend is watching the BRS 52 weeks of reefing series in YouTube. It’s a great series to help get base foundation.

 

[fishguy242]

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....

 

[Meeggles]

I did not cure my Marcos dry rock I just put it in the tank and filled with water and then added ammonia and waited for it to cycle. Lights off, wave maker on, and skimmer on (to break it in). I could be wrong but I thought curing rock was for live rock although I did see that BRS do a video on curing the same rocks. So...?

 

[Fred2482]

WELCOME @Macie!!! As far as "clear-cut", there are many ways to skin a cat, not all necessary wrong or right, just different. Take a look at Cycling an Aquarium and The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium . Your plan sounds good. Feed your bacteria once established. The garage is fine with a heater and put a lid on it. When you think you are done cycling, wait a little longer, week or two, and test if things have changed. Change water or don't, up to you. I cycled for just under 4 months, changing 90% of the water twice. Take this process slow.

+1
Welcome!!

 

[Leah Ryan]

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Dolelo96]

Welcome to the R2R family!

 

[Ashleem89]

Hey! I am kinda new as well.. However, I started with a piece of dry rock and dry sand I guess it would be called. I ran the tank like normal. Waited for the dust to settle and added some water from a friend's tank. Also, I had a bottle of starter bacteria from the fish store which helped.. But I can't remember the name! Not sure if that helps at all!

Hey Guys!
I am an extremely new reefer who has found herself overwhelmed recently!
I would like to start my process now by starting the curing of the rock (dry) now, since it does take a few weeks to months, and I will purchase my tank at the beginning of the year.
I can't seem to find clear cut answers, directions, or steps on curing dry rock.
Here is my plan and please let me know what I am missing.
I plan on having a 60 gallon tank so..
50-60lbs of Marco's dry rock
Brute trash can
I need RO/DI system for my water
Salt
Mix the salt with the RO/DI filtered water
Put the rock into the mix with a heater and a pump for circulation..
Cover the trash can with a lid? or don't cover?
I plan on putting this in the garage since it will be stinky..
Will that be ok as there will be a heater in the water (and it is now winter)
Some people say to change out the water when it becomes stinky (do i do this)
Then once levels are tested and ready, I can add live bacteria and continue the curing cycle?

Please let me know, I am extremely open to feedback. I just want to do it right.
Thanks for reading and your advice!

 

[Pistondog]

Hey Guys!
I am an extremely new reefer who has found herself overwhelmed recently!
I would like to start my process now by starting the curing of the rock (dry) now, since it does take a few weeks to months, and I will purchase my tank at the beginning of the year.
I can't seem to find clear cut answers, directions, or steps on curing dry rock.
Here is my plan and please let me know what I am missing.
I plan on having a 60 gallon tank so..
50-60lbs of Marco's dry rock
Brute trash can
I need RO/DI system for my water
Salt
Mix the salt with the RO/DI filtered water
Put the rock into the mix with a heater and a pump for circulation..
Cover the trash can with a lid? or don't cover?
I plan on putting this in the garage since it will be stinky..
Will that be ok as there will be a heater in the water (and it is now winter)
Some people say to change out the water when it becomes stinky (do i do this)
Then once levels are tested and ready, I can add live bacteria and continue the curing cycle?

Please let me know, I am extremely open to feedback. I just want to do it right.
Thanks for reading and your advice!

Hey Macie
That sounds like a plan.
You can cover, but loosely, you don't want a sealed system.