"Cooking" LR is a term used for the process of curing uncured LR. It involves placing LR into a container with vigorous circulation and aggressive skimming, allowing it to "cook" for a week or two. Some people will do water changes during the process, some don't. It allows the dead and dyeing material to decompose outside the actual DT. Then there are those that set up a new system with uncured LR and allow it to "cook" in the DT. I've done both. I believe the best way, if you are bent toward getting uncured LR, is to "cook" it in a separate container. The ensuing "soup" is real ugly, stinks terrible and not something I would ever begin a new system with again.
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
Hmmmmm, NOT! But, if you do that, don't invite me over for a "soup and sandwich" luncheon.
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
I also have heard of people cooking cured LR that has developed algae problems. They put it in a dark covered container with a powerhead and heater and let it go for several weeks until all the algae has died off. I think that I remember them saying that they did water changes and maybe even scrubbed the rock periodically to remove the dying algae from the rock.
I have always thought that this is OK if you have extra rock to keep your tank going or don't have any fish but I am not sure how practical it is otherwise. It seems to be more practical for new rock.
I always just called it curing. I don't know what we always have to change the name a things. Its almost like someone invents a new word so they can talk like its something new. when all along its the same thing...
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
I always just called it curing. I don't know what we always have to change the name a things. Its almost like someone invents a new word so they can talk like its something new. when all along its the same thing...
Like Carmie mentioned, I've usually seen "cooking" in reference to the retro-active process of taking established LR out of a tank to re-cure in a dark container in order to rid the rock of nuisance algae.
Now that's taking things to extremes. Joe's Juice works for me. Can't imagine why it didn't work for him. Of course with his "extremism" approach it's hard telling what he did with the Joe's Juice BEFORE he applied it.
Great link Scott.
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
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