Dry Rock Question

[dg13]

OK - stupid question, but I am drawing a complete blank. If I want to remove all the live rock in my tank and replace with dry rock (like Marco rock), does the dry rock have to be cured or can it just go in the tank after being rinsed? I am assuming it can go right in the tank because there is nothing to be cured and there will be no die off, but I just want to make sure.

Thanks.

 

[rtc_reefer]

You have to cycle the dry rock for at least 2 - 3 weeks in a tub with a PH and a heater with salt water at the SG of your tank.

OK - stupid question, but I am drawing a complete blank. If I want to remove all the live rock in my tank and replace with dry rock (like Marco rock), does the dry rock have to be cured or can it just go in the tank after being rinsed? I am assuming it can go right in the tank because there is nothing to be cured and there will be no die off, but I just want to make sure.

Thanks.

 

[Valentine]

You would still have to let it cycle, but the cycle period was very short for me with Marco rock. It's very, very clean.

*I actually had it in a bucket with some cured rock for less than a week. It went in as half the rock in a 40 gal. (the rest was cured, coralline covered rock), and there were no wild swings in pH, nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, etc. I didn't have many creatures in my tank at the time, but the clean up crew and zoanthids didn't show any signs of stress.

Is my experience unique? I think Marco tends to work well for fast cycles and curing because it's so devoid of organics.

 

[Mad Cow]

There will be a lot of die-off on the Marco rock. I left 25#s of it in a bucket with a powerhead and a heater in my kitchen. 2 days later it smelled like holy hell.

 

[dg13]

Thanks everyone!

 

[pvh]

Don't take any shortcuts....too risky. The Marco Rock I got cycled in under 2 weeks.