| Adding live rocks to fish tanks and aquariums is a | | | | Any living organisms inside the rock should have |
| common practice many hobbyists adopt to add | | | | exited from the rock and any dying organisms |
| spice to their tanks. However, a live rock needs | | | | would be fairly easy to spot and removed. Run |
| to be cured properly first before they can be | | | | water over the rock and swirl it in the bath to |
| added to your tank or you could be getting more | | | | clear it of any debris. |
| spice than you bargained for. | | | | Your rock is now clean of most organisms, but it |
| Live rock can contain unseen pests such as | | | | is not properly cured yet. There may still be dead |
| mantis shrimp, bristle worms or crabs that will be | | | | material lying inside the rock that could result in an |
| introduced into your tank unwittingly. Dead or | | | | ammonia spike in your tank. You have to leave |
| dying material in the live rock can also contribute | | | | your rock in the container for a period of time |
| to an ammonia spike in your tank, resulting in | | | | for curing. |
| undesirable water quality changes. Therefore, | | | | You should retrieve the rock for brushing with a |
| before adding a live rock into your fish tanks, it | | | | toothbrush from time to time to get rid of dead |
| must be properly cured first. | | | | material. The water used for curing should also be |
| To cure live rocks, you have to first place them | | | | changed every 3 to 4 days. This helps to drain |
| in a container filled with saltwater. Heat the water | | | | any remnant ammonia from the rock to make it |
| to a temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius | | | | safe for adding into your fish tanks. |
| and use an agitator to circulate and oxygenate | | | | Curing a rock can be fairly smelly because of the |
| the water. This is to pre-clean the rock of any | | | | ammonia it releases. Therefore you might want |
| pests and dirt. Remember to wear rubber gloves | | | | to choose to cure it in a place where the smell |
| while handling the rock to prevent cuts from the | | | | isn't so much of an issue. And when the smell is |
| sharp edges of the rock and also to prevent any | | | | gone, you can know that the rock is fully cure |
| bites from the critters that might still be living | | | | and ready for adding into your fish tanks. |
| within. | | | | |