Live Rock question???

[shag26272]

If I put half base rock and half live rock in a trash can for a couple months with heaters and powerheads, would the base rock turn live? Or do I need lights?

[Blown 346]

The base rock will become live either way, if it's in the tank together or in a trash can. The bacteria is what makes the rock live.
If you are going to cure rock I reccomend no light, this will help avoid accessive algae growth.

[shag26272]

ok and would 2 months work out ok?

[Blown 346]

When curing rock you will usually have die off, or the organisms on the rock will be dead and will cause Ammonia, Nitrite. Or in plain English a cycle. You will want to have good flow going in the trash can and to be checking the levels of the water weekly.
Until you have 0 Nitrite then the cycle will be over and the rock will be safe to use in themain display.
The time span on how long you keep it in there all depends on how fast it cures.

[gmatt]

I've heard it's ok to use actinic light in limited supply to keep the coralin alge alive. Is this true?

[shag26272]

lights wouldnt work in a trash can, and I know you wouldnt use them for cooking, you could cure rocsk with a lights if it was in a kiddie pool or something

[shag26272]

Blown what im asking is would 2 months be too long? My tank is not set up and I wont have time until april or may and was wondering if 2 or 3 months would hurt anything

[Blown 346]

2 months will be fine, as long you have the heater and water cicrculation. You can kep the rock in there for months that way.