It's so on now - 72g Reef build - Page 12 - Aquarium Advice

**neilanh** · 09-23-2008, 11:26 AM

Proof! 100 pounds of Pohnpei Live Rock is enroute.

Ship date
Sep 22, 2008
Estimated delivery
Sep 24, 2008

Reference
Underwater Outlet
Destination
STERLING, VA
Service type
Home Delivery

Hogie · 09-23-2008, 01:49 PM

Woohoo! Better hurry up with your tank

**Ziggy953** · 09-23-2008, 02:12 PM

Nah...he doesn't have to hurry. He still has to cure the LR when he gets it. This however should help bolster his efforts though.

**neilanh** · 09-23-2008, 03:15 PM

Yeah, I think the curing process may take a few weeks, right?

I do have a question, is there anyway to cycle it while it cures if I'm not curing it in the tank? It'll cure in a 35g trash can, and I'm expecting pretty high amounts of die off. But, I assume I'll still have to cycle the whole tank when I put it in, right? Is there anything I can do now while it's curing to expedite the cycling process?

I've read that some people like to run actinics on the rock while it's curing to boost coralline growth, is there any truth in that?

**Ziggy953** · 09-23-2008, 03:27 PM

When you put the fully cured LR into the tank it will cycle pretty quickly. Yeah you will see a fair amount of die off, though there will still be a lot of life left too. I trust you have the 35g can filled with water and have it circulating and heated. Right?

Are you going to hook your skimmer up and have it run on the curing rock?

Most of the LFS's that I have been to run 50/50s on there curing tanks. I guess it could help promote coraline growth. If you want to do it it's not going to hurt anything.

**roka64** · 09-23-2008, 03:32 PM

If you have sand and water in the tank you can go with the raw shrimp. That will at least get some of the cycle started and you will have some bacteria forming, this might help to cure your rock quicker (but you are getting your rock tomorrow, so that is not really going to help).
I would cure the rock as the tank cycles (in the tank). If you do it in a bucket, there is no telling what kind of life (critters) will be left in the bucket.
Allen talkks about fully cured LR, do you have some or is that what is getting shipped?

**neilanh** · 09-23-2008, 03:49 PM

The rock I'm getting tomorrow isn't going to be fully cured. The plan is to allow it to cure until it's either A) done or B) I'm ready for it to go in the tank. Since the tank isn't ready yet, that's not an option, but depending on how long it takes to cure I may move it into the tank before it's done to finish there. Just have to see how much progress I make over the upcoming week(s) on the tank.

I was thinking about running some lighting on it, like I asked, if it would be beneficial. Not sure, though, that it would help much since the 35G can isn't going to allow any light to get through below the top few pieces. Was just more curious on that one.

Ziggy - I have 2 35g cans. 1 is filled with SW at 1.024sg and has been heated/maintained at 80 degrees and I have 2 powerheads in it to keep it all moving, 1 allowing for good surface turbulance. The second can is empty, so that the rock can go in and then be filled with water from the first can.

If I can find a way to support the skimmer in the can I intend on running it during curing, yes. I'm thinking I can rig up some eggcrate easy enough to accomodate this.

**roka64** · 09-23-2008, 03:56 PM

Ok, I see what you are saying.
I think once the ammonia hits 0 you should be able to add it to the tank (if it is ready) since the nitrItes will soon be converted to nitrAtes (you would no longer need the ammonia source for the rest of the cycle).
Also, the beneficial bacteria will be in/on the rock (or at least beginning to grow) so you will have partially cured rock and your tank's cycle should start with where your leave off with the curing.
Does that make sense?

**neilanh** · 09-23-2008, 05:33 PM

Yeah, I understand the process, was just looking to see if there's anything else I should/could do during curing phase to expedite it. But I agree, once it fully cures, the actual cycle should go quickly.

**Ziggy953** · 09-23-2008, 05:36 PM

You shouldn't have any trouble getting the skimmer to work in the "can". I've seen several pics of skimmers sitting right on top of the rock in a garbage can and running like a top.

Are you getting excited yet???? Can you smell the acros in your future?