Need light over rock curing buckets?

[rostato]

Might sound like a newb question, but do I need some sort of light over my live rock curing buckets? I have been trying to get about 75 lbs of rock cured for almost a month and a half now, and I still get readings of nitrite, and sometime ammonia. I have been changing the water out every 3 weeks, and just did a 50% water change.

It just seems like it is taking forever. I never cured rock in a bin seperate from a tank before, so I figured just throw in a heater and a power head and let it go...if It need slight then I know what I was doing wrong!

 

[ericmcj31]

I've never cured in a sep. container before, but Im pretyy sure that you leave w/o light for like a week then put a light on it (WHy? IDK-I think I just remembered reading that somewhere)

 

[rostato]

Well I have just kept the lids on the buckets so that I don't have to worry about too much evaporation. They are in a closet, so I forget about them alot. + I figured no light means no pest algaes start to grow...

 

[ericmcj31]

yeah-I think that was the reason for no light for the first week-

 

[rostato]

Ok, then I guess I need to just wait. more!

 

[jhutto]

some put a protein skimmer to pull some of the gunk out. if you see lfs stores all have big skimmers on them.

 

[mufret]

I've always heard that the best way was to have the rock in total darkness for as long as possible. Doing 100%water changes and rinsing the rock on a periodic basis is also important if you are trying to get rid of algae and phosphates that have accumulated in the rock.

 

[rostato]

Ok well thats what I have been doing, and its been about a month and a half and I still get nitrite readings, and of course nitrate...Maybe I will put my urchin skimmer on it too and see what happens...

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I would turn up the temp to like 82-84, and do frequent water changes, or add a skimmer as suggested. I have never had to cure rock more than 3 weeks with that strategy.

I would advise against lighting it (for algae reasons), and would also not suggest any livestock (like the urchin). They will serve no benefit.

 

[Reefplumber13]

i think he was talking about his skimmer!!! lol

 

[jmaneyapanda]

oh yeah. That will help a lot.

 

[rostato]

Yeah I ment the skimmer. I tested again today, and now have another ammonia spike. What is the deal. As soon as I get a build up of nitrates and changed the water I get another ammonia spike. This is just weird!

 

[jhutto]

But it will pass....

 

[rostato]

I just think a month and a half is too long. I mean seriously. I have never seen a cycle last this long. As soon as the nitrites and ammonia go away, and I get a nitrate spike I do a water change.

Then 2 days later I am getting ready to move them into the display and check again, only to get more ammonia or nitrite readings.

I think I amjust going to leave them alone for a while

 

[dakota9]

hm....... What salt are you using? Another member just recently discovered his salt was the cause of his ammonia problem

 

[ericmcj31]

is your test kit good?

 

[rostato]

its not that. I use reef crystals, and its the same salt I use on my display's, and never have a problem with them.