how long to cure rock

[xentrik1]

I got a little 10lb piece of live rock I want to add to my already established tank. its got a lot of coraline on it and there's a medium sized urchin in it. It doesn't smell bad or anything. I was wondering how long I need to cure it for, or if there is a way to tell when its cured

thanks

[fd235158]

It sounds like it's already cured, but if you want to be on the safe side you could put it in a QT if you have one. Basically you get the ammonia spike (curing) when you have die off on the rock. Did you get it locally or shipped?

[xentrik1]

well i got it from an LFS not sure where they got it from the guy wasnt very friendly but the price was decent

[fd235158]

How much LR do you have outside the piece you just got?

[xentrik1]

probably about 30lbs in a 50 gal tank and about 30lbs of live sand

[fd235158]

What do you have for livestock?

[moggyhill]

I'd put it in a qt for awhile with a protein skimmer if you have one and when the ammonia is down the rock is ready.

[xentrik1]

well i have some snails 2 shrimp a clown a RBTA a starfish and a mandarin

[fd235158]

You can take the risk and put it in the tank but I would let it cure in a QT.

[xentrik1]

ok thanks

[xentrik1]

well its been in my other tank for about 5 hours and i just checked the parameters- ammonia is at 0 nitrites 0 ph8.3 and nitrates 20. I'm thinking that if I put the rock in my established tank it might deter any die off. Is that possible?

[fd235158]

It's likely to experience less die off in your established tank. The problem is that if you have an ammonia spike in your main tank you could kill your inverts and fish.