Question about live rock/sand storage...

CantImagineWhy · 09/18/2012, 04:32 AM

I'm sure this is a super noob question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway... I tore down my tank about a month ago and put the live sand in a bucket and the live rock in another bucket. They both have water in with it and have been sitting closed inside of my house since I tore the tank down. My question, is it any good anymore? I was going to give it to someone to start their tank right after I took my tank down, but they ended up not having enough money for other supplies.

Thanks in advance.

usmc121581 · 09/18/2012, 05:14 AM

I had a neighbor who deployed for 8 months and stored the sand inbu keys and rock in trash cans. The sand was alright after a few rinses to rid it of all the dead bacteria, the rock took a little more work, if I recall he made fresh water Nd put power heads heads in the cans and kept doing water changes till the nitrate levels went down in the water

Tinkanator2000 · 09/20/2012, 07:34 AM

The trick with storing sand is not to make it too deep, thus creating an anaerobic environment (this is normally where that rotten egg smell comes from).

I would suggest the person rinse the sand well, as well as the rock. Then just let them both re-cure in the tank. I know it sucks to have to wait, but it's always better to play it safe.

fishgate · 09/20/2012, 07:38 AM

For a month it is probably ok as-is. I store used sand but I rinse it very well many times, drain as much as I possibly can, and then lay it out in an old aquarium/flat-surface until it is dry about 1/2" deep - usually a couple of days - do this multiple times until it is all dry, then put it in a homer bucket.

Zappo · 09/20/2012, 10:39 AM

I just wanted to point out that people buy "live sand" all the time in plastic bags that have probably been sealed and stored for a year or more. If it was clean when it went in, it'll be just fine. As Tinkanator2000 pointed out, the biggest problem you might have is with old detritus rotting at the bottom.

My suggestion is to pour off the water in the bucket, top it off with fresh saltwater, and use a fish net or similar item to scoop out the sand and give it a bit of a rinse in the saltwater. Dump it and refresh if it starts smelling like rotten eggs. That should preserve anything still living in there while getting rid of most of the old rotten crud.

09/18/2012, 04:32 AM	#1
CantImagineWhy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 148	Question about live rock/sand storage... I'm sure this is a super noob question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway... I tore down my tank about a month ago and put the live sand in a bucket and the live rock in another bucket. They both have water in with it and have been sitting closed inside of my house since I tore the tank down. My question, is it any good anymore? I was going to give it to someone to start their tank right after I took my tank down, but they ended up not having enough money for other supplies. Thanks in advance.

09/18/2012, 05:14 AM	#2
usmc121581 Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abingdon, maryland Posts: 1,671 Blog Entries: 1	I had a neighbor who deployed for 8 months and stored the sand inbu keys and rock in trash cans. The sand was alright after a few rinses to rid it of all the dead bacteria, the rock took a little more work, if I recall he made fresh water Nd put power heads heads in the cans and kept doing water changes till the nitrate levels went down in the water __________________ I prefer not to think before I speak, I like to be just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth. Current Tank Info: I have a 180 gal mostly LPS corals, it contains 1 Val. Tang, 1 yellow striped clown fish, 3 percula clownfish, a blood shrimp, cleaner shrimp and a sand shifting goby, 5 pajama cardinals, 1 green chromis. Also a 75 gal. sump/fug.

09/20/2012, 07:38 AM	#4
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	For a month it is probably ok as-is. I store used sand but I rinse it very well many times, drain as much as I possibly can, and then lay it out in an old aquarium/flat-surface until it is dry about 1/2" deep - usually a couple of days - do this multiple times until it is all dry, then put it in a homer bucket. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

09/20/2012, 07:34 AM	#3
Tinkanator2000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 168	The trick with storing sand is not to make it too deep, thus creating an anaerobic environment (this is normally where that rotten egg smell comes from). I would suggest the person rinse the sand well, as well as the rock. Then just let them both re-cure in the tank. I know it sucks to have to wait, but it's always better to play it safe.

09/20/2012, 10:39 AM	#5
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	I just wanted to point out that people buy "live sand" all the time in plastic bags that have probably been sealed and stored for a year or more. If it was clean when it went in, it'll be just fine. As Tinkanator2000 pointed out, the biggest problem you might have is with old detritus rotting at the bottom. My suggestion is to pour off the water in the bucket, top it off with fresh saltwater, and use a fish net or similar item to scoop out the sand and give it a bit of a rinse in the saltwater. Dump it and refresh if it starts smelling like rotten eggs. That should preserve anything still living in there while getting rid of most of the old rotten crud.