Live Rock: Cured or Uncured for a new tank?

[ASpec]

I’m going to be setting up a Nano tank in about 3-4 weeks. The only hold up right now is the tank being delivered.

I’m going to purchase my live rock from Premium Aquatics and was wondering if I should go with cured or uncured rock? I was thinking about ordering it now and putting it in a Rubbermaid container with a couple power heads and a heater, then when the tank comes in just transfer it over. My thinking on this is that I can control the ammonia spikes much easier this way but doing water changes in the Rubbermaid every couple days as needed.

When I called to order they suggested waiting until the tank arrived and just adding it right to the tank. What does everyone this on this? Should I go cured or uncured, and should I wait until the tank is setup or order now and do as I suggest above with the Rubbermaid container?

Your thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[austinsdad]

For a nano, I'd get live all live rock to start. Letting it cure in the nano would cycle the tank also.

[reefbound]

i would would get all the Uncured rock you can fit in the nano at once and let it cure and cycle all at the same time...thats what I did with my 75 [acronym:a53507f9ef="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a53507f9ef]... [acronym:a53507f9ef="in my opinion"]imo[/acronym:a53507f9ef].

[melosu58]

I agree that the uncured would be enough to cycle your tank. Just put it in tank and let it cycle.

[MT79]

I’m going to purchase my live rock from Premium Aquatics and was wondering if I should go with cured or uncured rock?

If it is going to be shipped it will have to be re-cured regardless. [acronym:499ea9e77e="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:499ea9e77e] is generally shipped dry so there is always some amount of "die-off" in transit. Going w/ overnight delivery rather than 2nd day will help this. Since your tank is not established yet it doesn't really matter. Like everyone else said I would just let it cure/cycle in the tank.
You may get some more hitchhikers on the "uncured" rock, but then again some of them might not be reef friendly ie. crabs, aiptasia, etc. [acronym:499ea9e77e="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:499ea9e77e]

[canyon15]

Uncured.....uncured.....and more uncured!!!!!!!

[tjara03]

go with uncured and fit as much as you can in that tank!! Good luck!!

[lando]

As mentioned, if it is being delivered, treat it as uncured [acronym:53fc98269d="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:53fc98269d]. Put it in the nano and let the rock cycle the tank. If you are sourcing things out locally try to find cured [acronym:53fc98269d="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:53fc98269d] and some good quality [acronym:53fc98269d="Live sand"]LS[/acronym:53fc98269d] from an existing reef. When I started my nano, I used 10lbs dead sand, 10lbs [acronym:53fc98269d="Live sand"]LS[/acronym:53fc98269d] (from various tanks) and 25lbs of fully cured [acronym:53fc98269d="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:53fc98269d]. I also used cured [acronym:53fc98269d="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:53fc98269d] rubble from my sump in the filter compartments. I experienced no cycle what so ever. I monitored water parameters for a week and begain adding corals and livestock.