Live rock cooking help

[makana]

I had the same results with the old test kit, new test kit is only two weeks old.

This week I actually tested my ro/di water and tested it again after mixing my salt for 24 hours for doing the w/c on my display last night. Both read 0.

I just tested phosphate in the cooking tub to be zero with a hagen and api test kit.

What I don't understand is that if there is organic matter being turned into nitrate, should the rock not be spitting out detrius?

[makana]

Okay, I just checked nitrate with an older hagen test kit and it reads 20.

[intarsiabox]

The solution to nitrate is dilution. How much water are changing each week? You may have to do a 100% water change and then start doing daily water changes for awhile. After a week of this check it again. Sometimes it just takes awhile but it will eventually work out for you.

[makana]

100% w/c every week for the last 8 weeks

[gregzz4]

I don't hold much faith in hagen test kits, and I haven't had good luck with api
You may get better results from salifert, red sea or elos

[makana]

I think with 3 seperate test kits all giving my the same results its safe to say the nitrates go from 0 to 15ppm in 7 days.

Another week has gone by with the same results. I would have thought by now that I would at least be seeing a reduction in the amount of nitrate I am reading.

Any other suggestions?

[gregzz4]

Other than blasting the rock in your tub with a decent powerhead, and rinsing/swishing it really well during your WCs, I think you'll just have to wait it out

[ChefFish]

Be patient, it took me 7 months to "cook" my live rock from my previous crashed tank. Keep doing your water changes and testing & you will get there.