Do you need a protein skimmer ?

Question

I have about 30 lbs of live rock and a 55 gal tub. I'm going to cure the rock in it do you have to use a protein skimmer while in the curing stage.

Answer 1

Absolutely. Using a protein skimmer will help ensure that the waste produced as the rocks break down are removed from the tank, and it cycles properly. If you didn't remove the byproducts, the tank would become polluted, as would your beautiful rocks.

Answer 2

For curing live rock, you absolutely should be using a protein skimmer, and the strongest you can get. No question about it.

As the life on the rock breaks down, the carbon in their body becomes dissolved in the water. Protein skimmers are the best way of removing dissolved organic carbons (DOCs) from water.

Also, a piece of advice I learned the hardway, set your rock on some PVC pipes and keep a powerhead to push the water all over and around the rocks before getting to the skimmer. Dead spots allow a build-up of DOCs, ammonia, ammonium, and (occassionally) hydrogen sulfide. You need to get all of that stuff out.