Algae Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I'm going to cook a bunch of live rock. Since it involves A LOT of water changes, I can't see using my good salt. Anyone know of a source of inexpensive salt to cook with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Pacific coast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcoralfarm Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Sent you a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Can you just use the water left over from doing regular water changes? That's what I did when I made a bunch of DIY rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Can you just use the water left over from doing regular water changes? That's what I did when I made a bunch of DIY rocks. I'm cooking some rock now and this is what i do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Wait are you all using saltwater to cook your LR? What is the purpose of using saltwater to cook the LRs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Wait are you all using saltwater to cook your LR? What is the purpose of using saltwater to cook the LRs? You need to use saltwater for the part of live rock that makes it live. (Creatures, algae, etc.) Note: DIY rock can be done a bit differently using freshwater as it doesn't have anything live to start and the primary purpose at the beginning is to leach the alkalinity out of the rocks. I switched from freshwater to saltwater early in the process though as the saltwater was free and I couldn't find any reason that it would not work just as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Cooking LR will help get rid of all the nasties in it. It allows the bacteria to go to work deep inside the rock and expel anything thats built up in there over the years. It will also use up NO3 and PO4 so you don't have to deal with leeching, and it will get rid of algae that may be growing in/on the rock. You should have seen the amount of detrius and other build up that comes out of the rock when you cook it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 If you don't use salt you will kill all that life and even more problems will occur inside and out of the rock. You don't need a LOT of water changes, but you do need them. What exactly is the problem with the rock now? How old is it/in your system? Current water perims? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share Posted November 11, 2009 I've got three large pieces of Walt Smith Florida rock that I got out of guys tank that is OLD. I am pretty sure of phosphate leaching. I've been seeing where a couple of people look at cooking as part of a long term maintainance regime. In other words cooking rock every 3-4 years to give bacteria a chance to get back into action and getting rid of phoshates. What I've seen people doing is changing water every three days with two or three rinsing/swishing buckets inbetween the holding buckets. All this going on for 3 months or so. This can be quite a bit of water if this routine is used? What exactly is the problem with the rock now? How old is it/in your system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I got a box of pacific coast salt that I can trade you something for it. Or $30. There's 3 50 gal bags I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Franklin I think you can get away with bi-weekly or monthly WCs on a cooking tub. I can give you some MicroBacter 7 to help jump start the bacteria as well if you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Good idea about jump starting with Microbacter 7 (already have some)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puntific Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Why are we cooking the LR? Which LR are we cooking? I've got rock that hasn't been out of my tanke for 8 years. Is it raw, so to speak? puntific Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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