live rock& nitrate

[mkpaulson]

I need some opinions on what to do with some Live rock that I have been trying to reduce the nitrates in. I've been cooking it in a dark Rubbermaid tub for about five full months changing the water every two weeks to about every four weeks. I still have nitrate readings of 5.mg/L ppm with a salfert test kit and it is still shedding some detritus. this rock was in my 120 gal.system and it is about four years old now. this system that this rock was in had a severe hair algae problem and sandbed that went bad. now I am presently trying to set up a new 210 system and I have 180 lbs of new Fiji rock and 88 lbs of tonga kaelini rock for a total of 268 lbs.of new rock. now what I have presently have cooking is about 65 lbs. and about anothe 65 lbs. in my old system that would still need to be cooked, now should I be able to achieve a 0 nitrate reading with this old rock by cooking it? or do you think I should take all the old Live rock outside and place it in the sun for a month and then recure it? or would you just go ahead and place it in the new system, the new system has been up and running with the new rock and no Live Stock for about three months and the nitrate level is 0.2 , opinions please.

 

[aquariumdebacle]

It might never recover without something drastic like an acid bath. If nitrates have adsorbed onto the rock it might leach indefinitely. Rock and sand should be considered consumables in a five to ten year lifespan. This really only pertains to calcifying corals so it could still be used in systems with aniamls not sensitive to nitrates.

 

[Curtswearing]

Mark,

I just think that means that things are still living in your LR. They are producing waste and Nitrifying bacteria are reducing this waste and you are ending up will low level Nitrates.

I'm not sure that a zero level is necessary. Your rock got behind in keeping up with your bioload. You let it catch up. I'm not going to tell you what to do, I'm only going to tell you what I would do. I would use the rock at this point as apparently, the detritus has substantially slowed.

Here's why. If you put the rock in the sun for a month and then dropped it into fresh saltwater. There would be some rotting of materials deep inside the pores of that rock, an airborne bacterium would hit the surface of the water and a cycle would begin.

In other words, no matter what you do, you're going to get a cycle in the new tank....get diatoms, cyanobacteria, and maybe a little hair algae. It's because of Phosphates and nutrients a cycle produces. Just because you see those things doesn't mean you made the wrong decision.

JMO...let's see others opinions.

Read This

 

[mkpaulson]

thanks for your input and your opinions, the nitrate levels have been coming down, maybe I will give it one more month and another water change and make up my mind and then. if anybody else has any other thoughts or opinions I would appreciate it.

 

[NaH2O]

Dan, I'm unclear on nitrates adsobing onto the rock. Could you explain how this is?

Mark - I would give it a little more time if you are uncomfortable. Get in there with a turkey baster and really blast at the small little holes, try to get as much gunk out as you can. As the rock continues to process wastes from itself, you will still see the end product of nitrates. Getting as much of the waste products out of the water as possible will help here. Water changes, too. Obviously, you are seeing some denitrification, and it may just take some time to build up the bacterial population to take care of this process.

 

[mkpaulson]

Nikki I believe the nitrates are from detritus inside of the rock which causes nitrate reading in the water which always seems to be high, when I started cooking the rock five months ago I had nitrate reading of 50 ppm or more and now I'm down to approximately 5.ppm or a little higher, just a little bit timid about adding this rock into my new system and causing nitrate readings in my new system. I guess i am just hoping there's something else I could do to lower levels a little more before using it in my tank, or would it be best just to replace the rock with new.

 

[mkpaulson]

Nikki I just started using a turkey baster about three weeks ago doing it once a week and that has really pushed out a lot of detritus from the rock I believe that maybe one of the keys to cooking Live rock, and getting rid of the detritus from the rock. I started this back in April and thought it would be over in eight weeks now almost September and I would love to get rid of this Rubbermaid tub from my kitchen and start my aquascaping on my new system.

 

[mojoreef]

Mark its sounds like its coming together. SOmetimes you have some rock that is just done and it takes a real long time to cook. For these kinds of rock dont put them out in the sun, when you do that the critter and all the nutrients in the rock die and actually make it more of a problem to get rid of down the line. Instead just get a big pot and boil the heck out of it. I just re did my tank and had about 5 rocks that were very nicely shaped, but just clogged with crud. I boiled them for about 3 hours and then gave them a quick scrub/rince and put them in with the rest of the rock. It doesnt that long for bacteria to re populate the rock and give you a new start.


Mike

 

[Angelscrx]

How many power heads do you have in the rubber maid tub to circulate the water?

 

[mkpaulson]

How many power heads do you have in the rubber maid tub to circulate the water?

two power heads and 1 heater.

 

[mkpaulson]

Mike when you boil your rock did you boil it in freshwater or saltwater?

 

[mojoreef]

Fresh water Mark. Its a last resort type of thing, but it will recolonize very fast, and once that happens it becomes a very good filter source. Also with the old algae and surface organism gone it makes a great seed surface for corraline growth.


MIke