Rock Cooking Question

[shaggy52282]

If I am cooking some liverock that has been in a dry, covered tub for about a month, does the quality of the salt matter during the cooking process?

Obviously I will want to use good salt once I setup the display tank, but could I use cheaper "generic" salt to cook with? It is 200+ pounds...so it will take lots of salt water, so I am just trying to cut down costs a bit. Thanks.

[crvz]

What is generic salt? Instant ocean? I wouldnt use table salt or other food grade sea salts, if that's what you're implying, but I consider IO a "good salt".

[shaggy52282]

I figured aquarium salt is like anything else in the world...there are varying levels of quality. Generally the cheapest option is the cheapest for a reason.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by shaggy52282

I figured aquarium salt is like anything else in the world...there are varying levels of quality. Generally the cheapest option is the cheapest for a reason.

There's no proof that the spendier salts are worth the extra cost, and I'd say that assumption actually doesnt play out for marine salts (though I agree, on a lot of other stuff it does!). I've only used instant ocean or instant ocean's reef crystals, which is only a couple dollars more for the large buckets. I think you'll find most of the long term pros would say the same thing... you're absolutely fine using IO for the duration of the tank's life.

[shaggy52282]

Fair enough. Now I just need to look into buying 200+ gallons worth to cook...and another 200+ gallons worth for the display tank to get started. That's lots of salt.

[Fat Tony]

The cheapest salt (but probably some of the best ) is Corallife, the packaging is cheesy as all get out, but it really is great salt. If you can get by the packaging, you will find that the quality far exceeds cost...

[Jared J]

Coralife has the free tshirt in the bucket too

[wolfe4372]

Originally Posted by Jared J

Coralife has the free tshirt in the bucket too

yeppers!

[OneDummHikk]

Shaggy, if you are interested, somewhere in the DIY archives is a DIY salt mix. Its about half the cost of what I was paying for commercial/retail salt and all the basic ingredients (that you would need to cook rock) is readily available. Pool Salt (I got it at Walmart), Baking soda, Rock Salt (Ice cream Salt), Calcium Chloride (Pool store). For cooking rocks, you are looking at a lot of salt. A lot more than 200 gallons worth of salt for cooking. When you start getting near the very end of the cooking, you could switch to whatever salt you are going to use for the display tank.

I am not at home so I don't have the link handy, its somewhere in the DIY section (and may even be the archives). If nobody posts it before I get back home, I will post a link to it.

[shaggy52282]

Just a thought...but if my liverock has been dry for 1 month, odds are it is just baserock at this point right? Would it be just as effective to boil and scrub them to "sterilize"...then start the cycle with a raw shrimp or 2 in the sump? I would think boiling them would be cheaper (no salt) and faster. Right?

[Fat Tony]

It's really got nothing to do with sterilization, it's all about getting the stored nutrients in the rocks out. Boiling will not cure this issue. You can do one of two things, cook them (it doesn't mean put them in the oven ) or use the Muriatic acid method (Hop can fill you in on this)

[motorslave]

I dont think so. The boiling may get rid of some stuff but the whole advantage of properly cooked rock is that the bacteia eats all th junk in the rock. This is evident by the sluff the bacteria creates from its diet so to speak. Once the rock stops shedding then the rock is pretty much done. Boiling, washing etc wont remove all the nutrients in the rock. Only the bacteria will do that.

[Hop]

For dry rock you can soak in all overnight in a solution of muriatic acid and water (1:1) or vinegar and water. This will help speed up the process and once it is done fizzing (about 1-2 days) you just need to rinse it thoroughly. Much cheaper than the months of cooking and changing SW... Again for any one reading This is for DRY base rock only

[shaggy52282]

Well..."liverock" that has been sitting in a rubbermade tub with no water for 1 month is essentially dry base rock at this point...right?

[motorslave]

Originally Posted by shaggy52282

Well..."liverock" that has been sitting in a rubbermade tub with no water for 1 month is essentially dry base rock at this point...right?

Correct.