electrikat
Aquarium Advice Addict
We brought appx 85-90 pounds of coral skeleton back from Maui on the 17th of April. It has been curing in a 20 gallon tub since then. I have 2 powerhead running in it. I started out with new saltwater and have been changing 5 gallons every other day. I am replacing it with the water from my 90g tank and putting new water in the tank. It's been 10 days now and the ammonia is still through the roof. I am not filtering it at all but I do have a bag of gac in front of one of the powerheads to help out a little. My goal is not only to cure it, but also to have it completely colonized with bacteria by the time we put it into the tanks. Here's the question part. Appx how long do you think it will take to complete, and if I'm using used water will the readings be true, and will I still be watching for the amm and nitrite to reach zero? Because I already have nitrate from the water I'm adding. Will adding used water add any bacteria to the equation by way of transfer? Will this help? I really didn't want to use fresh mixed because that seems like a waste to me. I'd rather have the fresh in my tank to get the nitrates down in it. Any helpful advice will be appreciated and any first hand experience will be great too. I've already read the article on curing live rock but am not sure it applies to this situation since this stuff came off a beach and I don't know how long it was ashore.