Cured or Uncured?

A

AlwaysConfused

AC Members
Aug 24, 2004
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Im getting to that point of getting my live rock for a 29 reef setup, and ik cured is preferable but it would cost me $250 to buy the 50 lbs i want but i found online 40 lbs uncured LR for 147 (that includes shipping) and then i could just pick up the extra 10 lbs at my lfs.
Would you go with the uncured
if so i have a couple questions

1. how do you cure it
2. how long will that take
3 do you get more desirable critters w/ uncured, or do they die in the cureing however that may be done.
 
1. Curing is the process of allowing the dead organics to rot away. Depending on what all is on the rock, you can cycle the tank with the rock--just add it and monitor ammonia levels, do water changes to keep it low if there are a lot of encrusting organisms you want to survive.

2. Duration will depend on the quantity of dead stuff. You can remove visibly dead stuff first, and thus reduce the total ammonia produced. If the rock is in good shape, bacteria should be present already and be able to establish larger colonies easily. I'd still plan on 4-6 weeks, though.

3. It depends on the curing method. Uncured rock typically has more hitch hikers, but a high ammonia spike without water changes can kill many of them.

Where are you looking to order from? TBS rock typically ships well and causes a minimal spike with lots of critters.
 
I dont know what TBS stands for, but ik im getting mine off dr fosters and smith.
its carribian and thier location is very close to where i live so i can forgoe the shipping and pick it up there. or so the site says
 
TBS=Tampa Bay Saltwater

Should be okay then. If it smells noticably rotten, you'll have more of a concern, but since you can pick it up direct, there should be minimal die off.
 
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