is temp crucial when curing rock?

[zoidberg]

i plan on buying some rock sometime soon and i plan to keep it at my shop curing with no ac. would it be bad if temps got high?

 

[ricwilli]

You will loose allot of life if it gets to hot.

 

[Whitebird1]

The process of curing will kill most of the "life" on the rocks due to the ammonia spike. Higher temps may decrease the curing time. The only main concern is if you go beyond the point that you begin to kill off the bacteria that you are culturing.

 

[NJ_ychung1]

what if you do the opposite. cure the rock in a bucket of water without a tank heater.... what would the difference? anyone

 

[Gonzapa]

IMO the best you can do is to buy already cured rock from a member here. You are going to get a better price and pay less than half. I started my tank that way and couldnt be happier

 

[Whitebird1]

All that a curing dose is establish a biomass of Bacteria that feed on mainly ammonia.
The life on the rock, seaweeds, sponges, alga's, rarely survive the transport with the rock being out of water and its natural environment. The die off creates ammonia that the bacteria feed on and multiply. Once ammonia levels drop off the rock is cured and colonized and ready for the tank. This bacteria are native to the southern oceans and temps similar to that area 70-80 degrees are best, lower temps will just slow the process.
The one exception is live rock that was kept in water with the proper conditions, Life all over it, unfortunately up here on the east coast we rarely see that due to the expense of shipping.

 

[harryk]

as long as it doesn't get too hot it won't be a problem, i've cured rock with and without a heater, i've never had any issues....good luck

Harry