New Salty: My 29

[ainsy]

Not in this case it doesn't.

How could beneficial bacteria possibly colonise it when it is in vinegar?

It will still take up to 3 months to stop leaching or 'cure'

It will only cure with bacteria once it has stopped leaching and been put in a tank

 

[SaltNoob]

Cure does not mean colonize. Cure means bring the pH from 10+ to 8.0 The problem with cement and or any type of home made DIY Live Rock is that the rocks put off or "leech" into the water creating a PH of 10+. It takes lots of oxygen, and good water movement to CURE (bring down pH) the rock. Some people cure in big containers and do a couple water changes each week. I am not an expert at doing this, but just from reading that you wanted to, I spent the last couple days reading all about it and also how people have junked away a lot of "Dead" (lol) rock that never cured, only to have wasted time and go buy LR from a tank break down.

Here is a link to this topic that others have been discussing for years on Reef Central's website DIY Live Rock

Good Luck bud!

-Tyler

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

Brilliant read Tyler (thumbs up)

 

[Donya]

Just to be a total pain, I feel the need to point out that there are at least 3 distinct ways I'm aware of that the word "cure" is used in the context of marine aquariums:
1. The chemical process in the cement that SaltNoob is talking about.
2. The process of heavy cleaning followed by colonization of bacteria and microalgae on dead/dry rock. To avoid confusion, this one really should probably just be left at "colonization," because it is commonly mistaken for...
3. The process of partial die-off and regrowth on already-colonized rock (usually farmed in a patch of ocean) that takes it from a stinky state to being nice.

So people regularly talk about curing DIY rock (version 1), curing reef bones by tossing it in with already-live rock for a lengthy period of time (version 2), and curing incoming rock at a store before sale (version 3). Great, isn't it?

 

[56jman]

The cement water that it has been in is at about 8.8 after 2 water changes and if you look on youtube people use vinegar or just put it in water and do WC every day and it takes a week... Some people say use vinegar for 12hrs then place in tank... Im confused??

Look this up on youtube

-Jared

 

[lljdma06]

Why not just get Liverock that's already cured? Is it that expensive where you are?

It's like $4-6 a pound in Miami stores, for good stuff too, often less if you get lucky and find a tank breakdown. Honestly is all the confusion regarding making your own rock really worth saving a dollar or two and the amount of time? I'm way too lazy for such an endeavor.

Three things that are very important in reef systems and you shouldn't skimp on them...

Liverock
Flow
Lighting

The rest are just bells & whistles, at least IMO. Lighting is even a bell & whistle if you limit what corals you keep. I've seen lovely nps and mushroom only tanks that have very little light.

L

Just to be a total pain, I feel the need to point out that there are at least 3 distinct ways I'm aware of that the word "cure" is used in the context of marine aquariums:
1. The chemical process in the cement that SaltNoob is talking about.
2. The process of heavy cleaning followed by colonization of bacteria and microalgae on dead/dry rock. To avoid confusion, this one really should probably just be left at "colonization," because it is commonly mistaken for...
3. The process of partial die-off and regrowth on already-colonized rock (usually farmed in a patch of ocean) that takes it from a stinky state to being nice.

So people regularly talk about curing DIY rock (version 1), curing reef bones by tossing it in with already-live rock for a lengthy period of time (version 2), and curing incoming rock at a store before sale (version 3). Great, isn't it?

You're never a pain.

 

[ainsy]

This is why you should always take with a pinch of salt what you see in places like YouTube.

Are you measuring your ph with the vinegar still in the water?

If you think it is safe to add then that is your call but, having made it myself, I wouldn't add it to a tank until 3 months+

 

[56jman]

No vinegar twice daily or more WC and going down. FFF (furs, fins etc.) has LR for $5 a lb x 30 = $150... Cement, sand, and salt.... $15 for about 400lbs. If you were to calculate that about $1800 saved + Im a kid thats in debt so cheap, cheap cheap. What do you think about coating the rocks in silicone and sand to make them look nice and stop leaching??? I will take pics of my tank, and diy rocks later this after noon

-Jared

 

[56jman]

Hello there,
My diatoms have thickened greatly so the LFS person suggested a few hermits, they are robots and just keep the diatome growth on the sand under control(not on the glass though)
Also I got a Quiet Flow and instead of the cartridge Bio-Chem Zorb to clear up the water, also for flow and aeration of the water. Should I purchase a snail for the glass? I will be getting about 3-4 lbs of rock from Fins and Feathers and then adding base rock from BRS.

My glass and sand diatoms:

These are two of my hermits out of 3:

And then here is my diy rock that has stopped leaching in 2 days and about 6 WC:

 

[ainsy]

Have you tested your levels?

Don't add any more stock until you have and they are at zero (apart from nitrAtes).

As I said with your DIY live rock - adding it is your call but IMO I would not be adding it for another 2 1/2 months at the earliest.

Diatoms are a natural step in the start up of a tank and nothing to worry about - it is only because your tank is immature...and an immature tank will not sustain the things you are planning to add to clean it up. It will go with time. If it bothers you point your powerhead at the sand (but no so that it makes a 'dust storm'!) and clean the glass manually.

 

[SaltNoob]

WOW. now THAT is some diatom outbreak! WOW

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

I like it when other peoples diatoms make my tank look clean I'd follow ainsys advice here spot on as per

 

[ainsy]

Thanks for the vote of confidence dude!

 

[56jman]

Yeah going to order BRS reef saver rock in hopefully a week. About 20 lbs. BTW will this kit work for a diy project??? How many, is one good?

-Jared

Srry this is the link http/www.ebay.com/itm/8x3-W-LED-With-Constant-Current-Driver-Kit-DIY-item-/120817059365?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c21420625

 

[SaltNoob]

That is gonna depend on the coverage of the LED's you want. 3 led's is not much and it certainly won't be enough for corals. Id take a look at other peoples DIY LED projects and see what they are doing. I'd say for this to be even near efficient enough for corals you would need to have 12-24 LED's. If you get them with optics even more because it concentrates the lights better. This will help with the light dispersion when it hits the tank and keep it stronger (with optics).

How do you plan to mount this over your tank?

-Tyler