How To Cure Live Rock For Saltwater Aquariums?
Everyone is going crazy about curing live rock, and you may be wondering why. Curing live rock is an essential first step to creating a thriving reef aquarium, and although it does require some patience, following the correct steps leads to long-term success.
What is live rock?
Live rock is the backbone of reef aquariums. Hobbyists can use wet live rock directly from the ocean or dry rock from past aquariums. Aquarium live rock contains carbonate properties that provide the foundation of aquarium aquascapes and biological filtration.
Why does live rock need curing?
When live rock is shipped, transported, and handled, some organic matter dies off. Any dead material left behind on the live rock must be removed via curing to prevent the rock from leaching harmful chemicals like ammonia into the water which could harm your corals and fish. For example, a study found that curing live rock removed nitrogenous compounds, reducing coral mortality and acting as a natural biofilter.
Types of live rock
Wet rock
Wet live rock comes directly from the ocean or an established aquarium system. Because it has been living in a wet environment, it will likely contain micro-fauna, coralline algae, and beneficial bacteria. When curing wet rock, do so carefully so that you preserve beneficial life but remove any dying material.
Dry rock
This is a type of live rock that was once wet but has since dried out. It is usually sourced from the ocean or has been previously used inside an aquarium. Dry rock typically contains dead organic material, therefore you must remove any dead material and cure the dry rock before placing it inside your aquarium.
Aquacultured rock
Just like aquacultured corals, aquaculture rock is harvested (usually from US waters). This type of live rock is best if you’re a beginner as aquacultured rock often requires little to no curing. It is also best to use aquacultured rock if you are looking for a quick setup.
How to cure live rock?
To cure live rock you will need the following:
-
Gloves - for your protection when handling the live rock
-
A large container
-
Water heater
-
Powerhead or an airstone to create some water movement
-
Aquarium reef salt mix
-
RO/DI water
-
Bristle brush - we recommend nylon
-
Water test kits - you will need to measure nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia
Initial setup
Take your large container and fill it with freshly mixed saltwater. You should aim for a salinity level of 1.021-1.025. Next, install the aquarium heater (set it to 78-80°F) and powerhead or airstone. You will want to set up the curing area in a dimly lit space to prevent any algae growth.
Preparing the live rock
Start by putting on some gloves to protect your hands - we recommend nitrile aquarium gloves, similar to what gloves are worn when fragging corals. Next, take a look at the live rock for any obvious dead material. Using the bristle brush, gently remove any black areas, loose debris, or dead sponges (like pineapple sponges) from the live rock. Finish off preparation by rinsing the live rock in ready-made saltwater before moving it to the curing container.
Curing live rock
When curing live rock, ensure you test the water chemistry and parameters in the container every couple of days. If ammonia levels exceed 5 ppm, perform a 100% water change. This typically occurs two times a week - don’t worry, this is normal due to the material on the live rock being removed.
Wearing gloves, gently scrub the live rock with your brush between water changes. This is a key step to ensure that any white film on the rock is removed. Repeat this process until the ammonia and nitrate levels in the curing container reads zero.
How long does it take to cure live rock?
Curing live rock is not an overnight process, and it requires patience. While some people may tell you that curing live rock only takes a couple of days, a proper live rock cure can take anywhere from a week to several months.
For example, good-quality wet live rock typically takes around 1-3 weeks to be cured. Whereas, dry rock takes approximately 2-4 weeks, with some dry rock types such as Pukani taking up to 6 months to be properly cured.
Just remember, that rushing the curing process can cause problems later on. While your live rock is curating, take this time to carefully plan your aquascape, design different reef zones, research what corals and fish you would like to add to your aquarium, and coral placement.
How to know when the live rock is ready?
When the live rock produces no foul odors or no longer has white film on the surface, the rock has been cured properly. When the live rock is ready, additionally, the water will also have no ammonia and nitrate and the water will appear clear.
How to safely speed up the curing process?
If you need to speed up the curing process to establish a healthy bacterial population inside your aquarium quickly, you must do so safely by following these steps:
-
Create a strong water movement
-
Set the heater to 80°F
-
You may want to add beneficial bacteria specialized for curing live rock
How to remove live rock hitchhikers?
Removing aquarium pests and hitchhikers from live rock is a key step to preventing common saltwater aquarium hitchhikers from entering your aquarium system. Hitchhiker removal should be done before curing the rock as it makes it much easier to identify and remove them.
If this is your first time removing hitchhikers, here are some simple steps:
-
Prepare a clean bucket with saltwater
-
Dip the live rock into the water for 1-2 minutes
-
If you have any invertebrate hitchhikers, they will quickly move off the rock
-
Some hobbyists choose to keep some hitchhikers like anemones and shrimp - anything you do not want to keep, remove and dispose of
Curing rock mistakes to avoid
-
Avoid using bright lighting
-
Do not rush the process
-
Do not skip essential water changes
-
Never place uncured rock into a well-established saltwater aquarium
Summary
Curing live rock may seem like a challenging and unexciting process, but it is one of the most important steps to creating a thriving saltwater ecosystem. Remember, to be a successful reef aquarist it requires patience and following proper protocols for long-term success.
If you need extra advice on how to cure live rock, do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced team at Reefco Aquariums - we are always happy to help, no matter where you are on your exciting journey ahead in the reef-keeping hobby!
