Hello!!
I have been cycling and curing live rock for about 3 weeks now. I cleaned the rock very well before putting into the curing chamber. For the curing set up, I have a 50 gallon trash can with a lid. I purchased 100 lbs of dry rock and got the trash can ready. I used SeaChem start up for marine water and followed with the 7 day treatment of stability. I also used pvc pipe and connected it to a pump so the water in the trash can is well circulated. The return pump sits at the bottom of the trash can coming up with two arms branching off to either side. The rock was all cleaned with treated water before going into the trashcan. I also used an industrial air pump and blew the rocks off very well. The water has been crystal clear for the past whole 3 weeks. I have also been testing it. Everyone said the water would be so dirty I would need a water change after week one, but I could always still see the bottom of the trash can and the water is clearer than in my tanks!!! Cleaning the rock before took very long but was well worth it. Here's where my questions come in.
We are at week 3 and our test results read the following
Ammonia - 0.25ppm Nitrite- 0 and Nitrate- 10
Should I do a water change now or is it pointless?
Also when do I know the rock is cured? My water was clean the whole time so that isn't any help. The test results also aren't spiking or experiencing new tank syndrome.
I am re-starting my salt tank and decided to cure my own rock because I couldn't even begin to count the number of worms in my tanks from the fish stores!!! I want everything to be done properly and all fish/corals going into the new tank will be quarantined and dipped. I want to make sure the rock is fully cured and ready to go!
Thanks so much!
I have been cycling and curing live rock for about 3 weeks now. I cleaned the rock very well before putting into the curing chamber. For the curing set up, I have a 50 gallon trash can with a lid. I purchased 100 lbs of dry rock and got the trash can ready. I used SeaChem start up for marine water and followed with the 7 day treatment of stability. I also used pvc pipe and connected it to a pump so the water in the trash can is well circulated. The return pump sits at the bottom of the trash can coming up with two arms branching off to either side. The rock was all cleaned with treated water before going into the trashcan. I also used an industrial air pump and blew the rocks off very well. The water has been crystal clear for the past whole 3 weeks. I have also been testing it. Everyone said the water would be so dirty I would need a water change after week one, but I could always still see the bottom of the trash can and the water is clearer than in my tanks!!! Cleaning the rock before took very long but was well worth it. Here's where my questions come in.
We are at week 3 and our test results read the following
Ammonia - 0.25ppm Nitrite- 0 and Nitrate- 10
Should I do a water change now or is it pointless?
Also when do I know the rock is cured? My water was clean the whole time so that isn't any help. The test results also aren't spiking or experiencing new tank syndrome.
I am re-starting my salt tank and decided to cure my own rock because I couldn't even begin to count the number of worms in my tanks from the fish stores!!! I want everything to be done properly and all fish/corals going into the new tank will be quarantined and dipped. I want to make sure the rock is fully cured and ready to go!
Thanks so much!
