Curing rock from backyard. Yes Backyard.

I just got 50 lbs of dry rock and it is beautiful, but after looking at it and putting it in my brand new 55 gal tank that I am setting up now I felt I needed another 25 to 50 lbs.

There is about 15 lbs of live rock from my 14 gallon Bio cube in the tank too and 40 lbs of dry sand. I added 32 oz of FritzZyme 9 to aide in the cycle of the tank.

​

Looking at the rock I got and being on a tight budget, I said to my self that this looks like the same rock I dug out of my South Florida backyard when I put in a pound 2 years ago.

​

I want to cure this rock and use it in my tank.


My thoughts were to wash it thoroughly with a pressure washer then put it in a 35 Gallon trash can with the cover on and a power head in there to circulate the water for about 3-4 weeks doing a 30% water change every week.

I'm not sure if I should have bleach mix or vinegar mix in the trash can?

The trash can would either be in the hot garage or out on the back patio letting the sun back it daily.

Then do an RO rinse and let the rock sit in a can of RO water for a week (again with the water circulating).

After all that I was going to let it dry out under the sun for a week or so.

Any thoughts or suggestions???

Thanks

 

You dont need to cure it, just powerwash and soak it

 

.

Are you sure? This doesn't sound right.
This rock has bee sitting outside in the dirt for 2-3 years or more It's got to have some unwanted passengers (like worms or other bugs) on it.

Yes putting these creatures in the saltwater will kill them, but it will also cause a spike in the ammonia, won't it?

You can see by looking at picture of the backyard rock that there is moss or some kind of plant growing on it.

 

I like your plan and your reasoning is good since you are thinking safety.

Welcome to 3reef. The tank looks good as does the rock work. I feel you have enough rock in the tank to my eye. Think about growing room for corals and swimming room for fish.

 

Yes I like your plan as well.

It sure will not hurt to give the rock a good cleaning at the very least and then if possible start to grow some beneficial bacteria.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Shouldn't matter. You're cycling your tank anyways. You'll get an ammonia spike regardless. That's the point of the cycle.

However, your way sounds good too.

 

+1. Go with your original plan to be safe...being in the ground, there may also be heavy metals in the rock, which we do not want in our tanks.

 

I too have this old coral sprinkled around my backyard but don't use it because of the well water I use for my sprinklers.I would be cautious after all most of South Florida was nothing but one big farm and any rocks in the ground were saturated with fertilizers.I would soak them thoroughly.

 

Actually the cycle just finished.
I'm starting to move things over from my 14 gallon bio-cube slowly.
I'm moving my clown and some more live rock over today and then next week I'll probably move the Dottyback and Coral Banded Shrimp over along with the rest of the rock and the coral.

I may split it up over a couple of weeks.

There was not a lot in the Bio-Cube.

Thanks for the feedback and support everyone.

 

I did this as well as I live in south Florida too and all our rocks looks like dirty Fiji rocks lol I just got it broke it down how I wanted it. I let it soak in some water I had from a water change with a crap o la of vinegar. Then scrub it real good made sure all bugs or what ever where dead. Sat it in sun scrub and soaked again and then dropped it in tank. Had a mini cycle but did not lose any corals. Was very happy. And now its all green and purple and very much live!