Dry Rock?????

Live rock is much better because it already has all the beneficial bacteria in it. You can just add it to your sump & it will become alive over time as bacteria colonizes it. Better yet put it in some else's already established sump for a month or two & it will give it a big kick start.

 

there is a website that i was looking at for dry rock that talked about how to cure it let me see if i can find it, also i really like it alot

 

bulk reef says: We recommend soaking your rock in heated saltwater for a few days and swishing it occasionally to get the dirt off. Add a pump to make sure the water is moving over the surface. You may cure it for longer or use more elaborate methods of curing if you wish.

 

Ryan,

Dry rock will quickly become live rock once it's been in your tank for a month or two, so there's really no difference other than live is already populated with all the organisms that make like rock "live".

You definitely want to cure it, especially if it was formerly live rock before drying out.

The curing process is pretty easy, but it takes time and can smell really bad (so you might want to do it in the garage). Just stick the live rock in a rubbermaid tub with a heater and a powerhead and saltwater. Periodically, you'll want to give the rock a good scrub with a clean brush (no detergents) and do a water change. I believe that once your Amonia and Nitrate stays at zero for a week or so, you're probably good to go. The whole process can take a month or two.

Hope that helps.

-JB

 

I am doing the same thing as we speak.  I have 100lbs of dry rock in an extra 75 gal tank with a powerhead, heater, and hang on back skimmer.  Hopefully it will only take a few weeks for it to cure.  Ive heard its best to cure it just like anything else and watch the ammonia and nitrates.

 

Also, I put a Wiki article up a few weeks ago about how to "cook" dry rock. So its in our Wiki. I am cooking some now.