Used live rock and curing

[Steven91]

Hey everyone,

I'm currently planning a tank upgrade from a 120 to a 220 and I want to try to avoid as much of a cycle as I can. My one friend who sadly took his tank down is giving me his old, Used to be live, rock.

What is the best means to cure it and to avoid going through a massive cycle on my new tank?

 

[Diesel]

Curing is good for at least 3 months if that's all you wanna do.

You can speed it up though but you got to soak in MA/freshwater mix for 24 (don't mix it with anything else please :mad:)
After 24 dump it out and rinse it good and let it dry in the sun for about 3 days, then drop it in a trashcan with saltwater with a strong pump to let it cure for another week or two.
After that it's ready to rock scape your tank.

 

[don_chuwish]

When I re-used my own rock and added some 'dead' dry Fiji rock from BRS I was very happy with the results I got from the following (basically):
1. 24 hour circulating bath of 1/3 vinegar 2/3 water
2. Hosed off & picked off as much gunk as I could
3. 24 hour circulating bath in just tap water
4. Hosed off & picked off as much gunk as I could
5. Started with salt water & heater, circulating
6. Water changes every few days, rinsing & cleaning the rocks manually each time
7. Once the water started staying clean I just let it circulate, covered, no light, for a few months before my tank was ready for it.

Keeping it covered meant it didn't even need top off water very often. I may have done some more water changes just to be sure I was getting rid of whatever was leaching out. And I had some carbon in there for a while too.