Reef Reset up

MLZ · 05/22/2013, 08:30 PM

I'm not too sure if this is the right section of the forum, apologies if it's not.
So here's the basic problem, a while ago I setup a 75 gal for a species specific (for a thornback cowfish), however, it was never shipped to my local LFS, thus I had to shut down my tank.

The tank itself was disregarded for a month, and I had forgotten to clean out the tank (really bad idea, for the record!), thus most of the small critters (a crab and some worms) died and alas there was a mini boom of diatoms. So zoom forward to a few days ago, I decided I was going to shut the tank down for good, then restart it as a softies tank with a puffer OR as a species only softy tank with a mantis shrimp. So my questions; would reusing the old (rinsed out 5 times) sand cause diatom blooms/algae booms? Or would it be okay considering I rinsed it out. And how should I effectively treat the rock? I have seen the dried rock with some dead crabs and other inverts on the surface. I've tried washing them out with a hose, but that doesn't seem that effective. Would the rock be a problem when I re setup the tank?

Thanks in advanced,
MLZ

Tuton · 05/22/2013, 09:17 PM

I have restarted tanks more than I should but I would not re-use the sand...
I would also re-cure your rocks as well...

05/22/2013, 08:30 PM	#1
MLZ Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Stoon, Canada Posts: 44	Reef Reset up I'm not too sure if this is the right section of the forum, apologies if it's not. So here's the basic problem, a while ago I setup a 75 gal for a species specific (for a thornback cowfish), however, it was never shipped to my local LFS, thus I had to shut down my tank. The tank itself was disregarded for a month, and I had forgotten to clean out the tank (really bad idea, for the record!), thus most of the small critters (a crab and some worms) died and alas there was a mini boom of diatoms. So zoom forward to a few days ago, I decided I was going to shut the tank down for good, then restart it as a softies tank with a puffer OR as a species only softy tank with a mantis shrimp. So my questions; would reusing the old (rinsed out 5 times) sand cause diatom blooms/algae booms? Or would it be okay considering I rinsed it out. And how should I effectively treat the rock? I have seen the dried rock with some dead crabs and other inverts on the surface. I've tried washing them out with a hose, but that doesn't seem that effective. Would the rock be a problem when I re setup the tank? Thanks in advanced, MLZ

05/22/2013, 09:17 PM	#2
Tuton Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 348	I have restarted tanks more than I should but I would not re-use the sand... I would also re-cure your rocks as well... __________________ "In this hobby nothing good happens fast" Tank Info: 55 Gallon Mixed Reef, 20 gallon sump