Live rock

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Rene

Im looking at getting some used rock. lt looks dirty. but little algae and growth. would this be ok if I cooked it?

Shouldn't be a problem. Do weekly 100% waterchanges on the cook tub (remove rocks and swirl in clean SW during the WC to remove detritus) to quicken the process. Remember that if you're going to cook your rock you need to test for phosphates, and put the rock in your tank ONLY after you test 0 phosphates with a quality test kit, AND there is no growth on the rocks anymore. There's no point in doing it if you're not testing phosphates.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Myka

Shouldn't be a problem. Do weekly 100% waterchanges on the cook tub (remove rocks and swirl in clean SW during the WC to remove detritus) to quicken the process. Remember that if you're going to cook your rock you need to test for phosphates, and put the rock in your tank ONLY after you test 0 phosphates with a quality test kit, AND there is no growth on the rocks anymore. There's no point in doing it if you're not testing phosphates.

Curing liverock is one thing cooking it is pointless, especially in a newer tank. I'm one of those people who likes things on my rock though. I've gotten many different kinds from many different places over many many years and never had to "cook" it. I kind of like walt smiths ideas on curing live rock. If you cannot handle a little algae in your tank...well. Of course certain types are bad ie caulerpa and a few others, but i specifically looked for certain types of macro algae on my rocks....fed my tangs. Aiptasia fed my CBB etc. Covered in cyano or even GSP (some don't like it because it spreads quickly - THE GSP . is another thing, you can clean it but cook it...naw. Dirty rock becomes clean with a good cleaning crew, coraline grows back etc etc. The only thing I am always concerned about and the one thing i do test for with rocks bought from someone else is copper...in a bin with a powerhead for a week and then test. Copper is the only thing i worry about when buying rock off of someone....the only thing...everything else can be dealt with quite easily. Copper CANNOT.

I would say some of the nicest rock i have ever seen, short of direct witnessing at the exporters...is the tampa bay saltwater rock. Amazing...at their facility and when ordered.

How do you test for copper?

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Rene

How do you test for copper?

I have a few different copper test kits...i test 3 times during each week of curing. If the test shows ...especially an increase then garbage is where the rock goes. There is a bit of copper in everyones systems though...just a very trace amount.

[Puff]

if i were to order some liverock from one of the US distributors (heard great things about a couple of them) would i be able to bring it back over the border?

"hi sir. what's in the box."

"umm...rocks."

"rocks?"

"yes...rocks..."

when i went to pick out LR for my first tank i went to OA. not only did janet help me pick out rocks, but she wasnt the least bit ****ed off that i took so long to pick out 28lbs of liverock.lol. i got some beautiful pieces. 2 gorilla crabs, but i got them, 1 aiptasia. i can handle it

i was looking at the rock at JL the other day. didnt seem to have a lot of live on it, but it was uncured, so who knows what could pop up.

i know that lots of ppl like uncured LR, but i kind of prefer cured liverock because it makes things easier, and im not a fan of cooking it.

[Pan]

With the border anything is possible. sometime you are lucky sometimes you are not.

[Puff]

man...when i brought my aquapod and a bunch of gear up from the US i had to explain what a friggin aquarium was.

BorderGuard:"what is in there?"
Me: "it's an aquarium, lights, a couple of pumps."
BG: "a what?"
M: "an aquarium."
BG: "huh?"
M: "an aquarium...for fish."
BG: "what?"
M: "it's a glass box."

i wonder if i would need some certificate or other piece of paper saying that it was legally harvested liverock...