Curing rock for new tank?

[bronck83]

I'm buying about 140 lbs of rock from a guy whose tank is still running. I haven't seen the tank but he sent me some cell phone pictures and it looks to be in decent condition. I am meeting him halfway(he lives kinda far) and he will be bringing the rock in containers without water I assume(he's doing all this with an Audi...).

From the pictures it appears some of the rock pieces are rather large & I was planning on breaking some of them in half. It is a 75 gallon with 35 gallon sump underneath with Octopus 150 protein skimmer. The RODI water & salt were mixed & tank has been running for about 3 weeks & I just added 130 lbs of dry sand today.

My Question:
The rock is going to be in & out of water for a few hours it appears during the moving/breaking process. Would it be ok to put this rock directly in my new tank after this or would I be better off curing it in something else? I've read the threads & never got a clear answer on this.

[coraline79]

5 hours is no big deal. The liverock you buy from the store is shipped out of water, across the world. You shouldn't have any issues. Test your water after 24 hours if you are worrying.

[bronck83]

5 hours is no big deal. The liverock you buy from the store is shipped out of water, across the world. You shouldn't have any issues. Test your water after 24 hours if you are worrying.

So I should just look over the rock & make sure no critters like apstasia or anything is hitching a ride & I should be good to go?

[SoLiD]

Personally I'd still rinse the rocks off with saltwater. Saltwater from an established tank would be better than new saltwater. There are all kinds of good bacteria in an established aquarium. But if this is a new tank new saltwater will have to suffice.

-David

[p00num3lli]

ive done that before on hour trips and put them right in. it will b ok, its just when u order them it comes from thousands of miles away, and its out of water..i agree with solid that u can wash it of a little bit with saltwater

[LoneStar]

Yeah wash the rocks off with saltwater to remove anything that died off. It will also remove and debris/detritus before the rocks go in the tank. Since the rocks are already established, you shouldn't have a big cycle, if any.

[Mr Cob]

If you are adding to a new tank without any fish I wouldn't even worry if it did send your tank into a cycle.

The rock could just cure in your tank provided there isn't any livestock. Be sure to monitor your parameters so that you will know where your tank stands in regards to a cycle.

I would definitely rinse the rock off first with saltwater and inspect for any unwanted critters and take care of them now.

[RayAllen]

Id ask him how he plans on packing it though. Id do wrapped in Newspaper, then in a bag, bag in a box method. This will keep the rock really moist and youd be surprised what will stay alive that way.

[bronck83]

Id ask him how he plans on packing it though. Id do wrapped in Newspaper, then in a bag, bag in a box method. This will keep the rock really moist and youd be surprised what will stay alive that way.

He said he was going to put it all in some ice chests, I assume with water in them. I'll be bringing a few trash cans & pre-mixed water to transfer it too. This is all going down in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

[subsailor]

I wouldn't worry about submerging them in water, that is a bit of a hastle and you can accomplish the same thing with some newspaper that is soaked as it won't be out of the water to terribly long, plus if there is any die off it will recure in your tank since it is a new tank.