Adding Dry Rock To A Established Tank

[sprinklerman500]

I got another question for you all!I have a established 150 gallon tank that's been running for about 2 months or a little less.The tank has about 75 to 100 pounds of rock that was cured,I need to add some more and have found a good deal on some dry rock.So,should I cure the rock in a tub,or can I add the rock to the established tank?All input will be great.TY Chris

 

[mcphock]

Dry rock does not need to be cured, as there is no recently deceased life on it. (As you would get with some types of live rock.) You can place it right into the display. I usually place dry rock into my sump to get it started with coraline before I place it into the display.

 

[db366]

The only time it needs to be cured is if it was made recently. I soaked mine for two days and it smelled god awful by the end of the two days.

 

[sprinklerman500]

Sounds great,that's the answer I was looking for.So you don't think there will be any debris?Should I rinse with fresh water and or maybe a scrub brush?TY

Edit: So if it smells bad that's good or not?Should I soak my rock for a few days?

 

[mcphock]

Naturally you want to rinse and scrub, just to get off any dirt or loose pieces. You should be good after that.

 

[dawgface]

I would absolutely rinse and possibly scrub. Just because there is nothing alive or recently dead doesn't mean your clear to throw things in the tank. Maybe its me, I'm very cautious what touches my tank.

Edit:

Edit: Smelling terrible Is bad!!! Means decay. Should smell like it came straight out of the ocean

 

[sprinklerman500]

Thats what I read in the Reefers book,but I always want to check with my fellow Refeers.All input is good!TY

 

[cr500_af]

Depends on if it is "always dry" (quarried) or "once live but now dry". Rock that was live before may have organics on it, unless it was bleached or otherwise thoroughly cleaned when it was taken out of the tank.

What I did (since I didn't know the history of my dry rock) was put it in a Brute of SW for a couple of weeks with heat and flow. If there had been dead organic matter, it would have been evident in the smell of the water after a while.

 

[carpenter981]

If it was once live rock, dont risk it, cure it again...