BBQ

[Sol]

I've been running for a year or more since the cooking.

 

-Sol

[Twitterbait]

Keep in mind that cooking rock is part of the process of finding the equilibrium in your tank. Yes there are other things that will add waste and cause algae in the tank but why would you want to start the tank off on a bad foot with rock that is loaded with debris and algae already. Cooking is just a good clean start. But at the same time Rich, you are correct that you must find your nutrient import as well and make sure that you can maintain the balance between intake and what the rock can process. Do you know that your fish tank itself (acrylic/glass) is adding a slow trickle of phosphate to the tank as well? you need to look and see what is using what and what is releasing what into your tank in order to find the best balance.

 

in the end the best answer is in between yours, a little of both is sound advice.

 

3 more things

1) adding dry base rock, yes it has waste so you will still need to cook it but... it can take more than a year to populate the whole rock before you can cook it all the way. Wet base rock is better. if you get dry then put it in a tub with SW and circulation for a while.

2) you don't need to seed the rock with anything. the bacteria is present (even on dry rock) and as long as the rock is dirty they will have plenty to feed on. adding a dirty "seed" rock is just adding fuel for the waste makers to feed on.

3) If you really like hitchhikers then add the rocks to a small holding tank to see what comes out, then grab it and place what you like in your tank on a clean rock and cook the rest. this is kinda like a QT tank for live rock so you can still grab the good hitchhikers while avoiding the bad.

 

I recommend cooking LR to everyone because of the rate of success it can give. but as was already stated, you have to follow the directions closely.