cooking live rock

I started soaking the rock I got for the restaurant aquarium Im setting up soon.  Is there a suggested time limit for this or just until nitrates test zero?  Also, should I be running a skimmer in the tub as well? Right now its all soaking in 55barral in an unused walk in refridgerator at the restaurant. 
Josh

 

no you don't need a skimmer. just heat and water movement.

 

Ideally you would want to do a water change after a week, another after another week, then one more about two weeks later. Was it dry, or partially alive? I think it takes quite a bit longer if it's been dry for a while. Are you planning on having it all cured, then emptying the tank, putting the rock in and filling it all right away so there's no(or very little) waiting period for the restaurant?

 

You don't even need heat, just flow and water changes. Ideally, it should be in a dark environment...so covered is best. See this:

http://www.greateriowareefsociety.org/Resources/GIRSWiki/tabid/163/Default.aspx?topic=%22Cook%22+Live+Rock

--AJ

 

The tub is in a totaly dark room and I have an old pond pump running in it for circulation. The rock came from Waverz old tank. So it was once live but now all dead. I gave everythign a good scrubbing before putting it in the tub. My goal is to have it all cured by the time Im ready to move it into the tank to reduce any chance at having a cruddy looking public dispay tank.
Josh

 

I statred my rock cooking on Sunday.... covered and in the basement....Holy crap does it smell!

 

Yep it does get to stinkin'. Also depending on how good or bad the rock is will decide on how often you do the water changes. I did my first two water changes after three days and the old water looked like bad oarnge juice and stuck like bad pea soup. Just keep at it until the rock has recured and cleaned up. It is hard on you salt supply though, Shaun

 

The first week and water change is the worst. It gets a little better each week. Remember to change the water once a week. When I did it, I pulled the rock out of the container every week, drained and rinsed it. I also filled a tub with fresh RO water and gave the rocks a rinse and used a powerhead to blow them off a little in the rinse water in between water changes. That's not required, but I think it probably helped get more of the crud off of the rocks.

--AJ