Dry rock picked up this morning

[kerry]

Here is some pics of the dry rock I got this morning. Its from some place in Florida the guy said. There is some nice rock and skeletons too. That big chunk has got to be 100 pounds plus, it was hard for two men to carry.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Whoa, nice haul!

[Garf]

Nice sheeeet.

[kerry]

The best part was the price, FREE!!!!!!

[Floyd R Turbo]

Oh man. Find of the year.

[Othello]

Nice rocks...so how do you introduce them into your tanks? cure them for a while and then place them in tank or place them directly and they will be colonialised by bacteria and critters to become "live"?

[kerry]

I will be adding this a few pieces at a time as my tanks are set up already. Its all dry and dead so there is no harm in adding it after cleaning it of debris and rinse in vinegar solution. Most of this will end up as bartering material and some free to the new reefers here in my area.

[Floyd R Turbo]

I would cook it. But I guess if you're not going to add more than a couple pieces at a time, should be fine. Every piece of dry rock I've ever bought throws off a ton of ammonia after sitting in water for 2 days.

[kerry]

I have experienced that in the past when I put a bunch in a brute can to get a jump start on cycling for a new tank that was not set up yet. What surprised me is that it cycled like live rock without lights on!!?? I thought I was going to have to add a chunk or two of shrimp to get it started but didn't have to.
As a rule I try to stay between 2-5% rock weight to water volume to avoid any nutrient problems, so far I have been safe using this method when adding dry rock.