[new2salt2]

real new to the hobbie and wondere what is meant by curing the rock and what is the purpose?

[Unresistible Blue]

Originally Posted by new2salt2

real new to the hobbie and wondere what is meant by curing the rock and what is the purpose?

Good question - I remember having the same question myself way back when.

First off, "live-rock" is a misnomer. The rock isn't alive. It does however have lots of living things on its surface and within all its cavities.

When the rock is taken from the ocean, put in a box, and shipped, lots of those living things die. When the start to rot, they generate ammonia (NH3, which it toxic to your tank inhabitants).

The process of allowing nitrosomas bacteria to oxidize the ammonia to nitrite (NO2), and allowing nitrobacter bacteria to take the nitrite to nitrate (NO3) is called....curing. Nitrate is relatively harmless to your tank inhabitants.

This process: ammonia->nitrite->nitrate is called the "nitrogen cycle."

HTH

Blue

[new2salt2]

that explains why my pet shop told me to buy a little for my tank at a time. now dried base rock and go right into a tank right?

[mrok12]

Originally Posted by new2salt2

that explains why my pet shop told me to buy a little for my tank at a time. now dried base rock and go right into a tank right?

It can but I never recommend that. It is just a palate for algea growth. If you can afford to do it get UNCURED fresh Live Rock and Cure it in the tank when you set it up.

I always use this method and I end up with a DSB with lots of life and great live rock also. You have all the control in how well things do because through water changes you can keep the ammonia and Nitite lower at home and end up with more life surviving.