Aquascaping w cycled wet live rock and keeping bbac and not cause issues w chemistry- Best practice vs less harmful expedient placement in newer tank.

[Addicted2Reef’n]

I set up my tank (155 gal wvol) 2 months ago using 70 % 1 year old heated cycled dry rock in brute w fish. I just wanted to make the right 1/3 of my tank have the same sophisticated rock structure as the other 2/3.
In order to do this I used 4/5 wet rocks out of tank and used 15 others that were dry but cleaned and soaked that day. I just finished gluing and using hair dryer for once over and staged the builds on a table in dark and cool area. I want to clean this excess concrete especially bc I used black and don’t want to get all over tank.
Why ?
What harm could it cause if I just dunked and let the loose concrete -etc air out * ..
Then out into tank with warm saltwater and ecosystem to save as much time out of water so I don’t have a huge die off and ammonia toxicity to kill fish.
Would the die off cause phosphate and nitrate issues w refugium running.
Could the concrete leach ph buffering chemicals into water if not completely dried and cleaned ?
I’ll attach a couple pics for reference.
This scape is covering a 20” wide space about 9” wide and 12” tall. The rock to build structures was 3/4 dry rock from garage that I washed with tap water .

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

Used a cheaper substitute than the E -Marco 400 I used for the existing awuascape. I used this just for two structure holds on either set up and rest is reef putty glue

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don’t understand some of what you wrote, but uncured concrete can drive up alk and pH.

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

I had planned on using the same method of cleaning the aquascape as I did before when I used the Marco 400 cement on previous structure.
Set in a tub and take hose to it for 15 minutes then sit in a tub w hose running for hour and then spray and repeat and put in aquarium .

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

I don’t understand some of what you wrote, but uncured concrete can drive up alk and pH.

I’m sorry I am honestly impressed how fast you replied and I respect your approach to the hobby and have read many of you suggestions for past 3 years. Thanks for doing what you do.
If I allow the concrete to cure fully then wash out in tub can I put directly back into tank without serious repercussions?
Some of the live rock was wet and has dried . How big of a hazard is this ? Do I have to let sit in tub for 2 weeks and then cycle in tub or place in tank then ?
This is probably not the exact place to ask this question but I respect what you think.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Cement curing can take a long time, not just the hardening time. But if there are no delicate organisms around you can likely control it with additives as needed.

There will be die off, but that does not mean there will be a significant ammonia spike if some of the rock did not dry out.

 

[Garf]

I’m sorry I am honestly impressed how fast you replied and I respect your approach to the hobby and have read many of you suggestions for past 3 years. Thanks for doing what you do.
If I allow the concrete to cure fully then wash out in tub can I put directly back into tank without serious repercussions?
Some of the live rock was wet and has dried . How big of a hazard is this ? Do I have to let sit in tub for 2 weeks and then cycle in tub or place in tank then ?
This is probably not the exact place to ask this question but I respect what you think.

I fixed my rocks with cement. You will find online that it can take a month in freshwater with regular waterchanges for the pH to stabilise. In my case it took a month, fancy that. There is also something else that happens afterwards which is odd. Once in the saltwater tank, the cement portion glazes over, like a silica coating. Nothing grows on this glaze, for many months.

Not an answer to your question unfortunately but thought it was worthy as an observation.

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

I fixed my rocks with cement. You will find online that it can take a month in freshwater with regular waterchanges for the pH to stabilise. In my case it took a month, fancy that. There is also something else that happens afterwards which is odd. Once in the saltwater tank, the cement portion glazes over, like a silica coating. Nothing grows on this glaze, for many months.

Not an answer to your question unfortunately but thought it was worthy as an observation.

Absolutely worthy of an observation. I take suggestions and learn from other’s experiences as much as I can. So far so good. The rocks I used this concrete on I also used top coat of gel glue and Marco rock sand to hide it and so far so good. I do see the glaze under the water from glue in some spots and was wondering if they wld cover in algae quickly but now I know it may take some time . Thx