A newb starting with used/dead equipment. Help!

ernestmyname · 05/29/2008, 07:28 PM

I recently purchased a whole saltwater outfit including a protein skimmer, 30 gallon tank, canister filter, coralife lights, a bunch of dead rock, and a bucket of previously established sand.

Most of my questions are regarding the sand and the dead rock. The rock is currently 'cooking'. I placed it in a bucket, in darkness, with a powerhead to aerate the water. I'm unsure of when I will know that the rock is ready. I also want to know the optimum conditions I can provide. Should I filter the water? I read that I should scrub the rock, but scrubbing did nothing to this rock even after it had soaked for 24 hours (although it does stink). I also have a bucket of sand/coral that was previously established. Is it safe to use whenever my rock is ready? Should I be cooking it as well? Also, can I use slightly salty / fresh water to cook my LR? I would like to have my aquarium set up in five weeks! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks so much! I included links to images of my sand and dead rock. Also, What media should I acquire to run in my canister filter? It is a fluval 404. I have already ordered some ceramic cylinders. I plan to have some small fish and anemones.

The Sand

The Rock

brians4671 · 05/29/2008, 07:42 PM

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Aquarist007 · 05/29/2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ernestmyname
I recently purchased a whole saltwater outfit including a protein skimmer, 30 gallon tank, canister filter, coralife lights, a bunch of dead rock, and a bucket of previously established sand.

Most of my questions are regarding the sand and the dead rock. The rock is currently 'cooking'. I placed it in a bucket, in darkness, with a powerhead to aerate the water. I'm unsure of when I will know that the rock is ready. I also want to know the optimum conditions I can provide. Should I filter the water? I read that I should scrub the rock, but scrubbing did nothing to this rock even after it had soaked for 24 hours (although it does stink). I also have a bucket of sand/coral that was previously established. Is it safe to use whenever my rock is ready? Should I be cooking it as well? Also, can I use slightly salty / fresh water to cook my LR? I would like to have my aquarium set up in five weeks! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks so much! I included links to images of my sand and dead rock. Also, What media should I acquire to run in my canister filter? It is a fluval 404. I have already ordered some ceramic cylinders. I plan to have some small fish and anemones.

The Sand

The Rock

To Reef Central

It is not a recommended practise to reuse sand--rather replace with new argonite and seed it with one cup of sand from another established tank

With regards to curing the rock--normally uncurred rock right from the ocean is curred separately and the ammonia monitored. If the ammonia spikes then the water is changed out

In your case I would be letting it cure in your tank and letting the bacteria start to cycle in there and increase there numbers.

In that way you will have a cycled tank in five weeks that you can start to add your clean up crew to.

kingfisher62 · 05/29/2008, 08:03 PM

Why do you say the rock is dead rock? was it dried out for a long time?
The fluval will work fine for now , eventually if the rock comes around you could probably run the tank with just powerheads and the skimmer.
Cannister are known to be nitrate factories if not cleaned regularly but don't worry about that with the new tank for a while because you want the ceramic cylinders to build up their beneficial bacteria. filter floss will help polish the water also.

I am not to sure about your rock but it should not smell when it is ready. I would imagine you should keep the salt levels where they should be for a marine tank otherwise they won't cure properly. Maybe someone else can chime in on this one.

As for the sand, that looks like crushed coral, which I have in my 55g FOWLR tank for 6 years I have never been able to keep my nitrates down because they trap a lot of sediment.

I would recommend some marine sand. dont waste your money on the "live" sand. Just get the dry stuff and then maybe you can get a couple of cups of live sand to seed the new sand from your LFS or a fellow reef enthusiast.

I never had anemones before but I know the need pretty strong lighting and a well established tank at least 8 months. At least that is what i heard.
Good luck!

ernestmyname · 05/29/2008, 08:15 PM

Thanks for the input. The rock has been sitting out of the aquarium for nearly a year. I spoke with the guy at the local saltwater store. He says that to put the rock straight into the aquarium would be a disaster. His first mention of uncontrollable algae was enough to send me home to dig out an empty rubbermaid container. He said that the dead bacteria that I am removing while cooking would be very bad for my tank. He said that it would be hard to get the water right if I put the rock straight in. Should I continue with the 'cooking' or go ahead and set up the aquarium?

05/29/2008, 07:28 PM	#1
ernestmyname Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 2	A newb starting with used/dead equipment. Help! I recently purchased a whole saltwater outfit including a protein skimmer, 30 gallon tank, canister filter, coralife lights, a bunch of dead rock, and a bucket of previously established sand. Most of my questions are regarding the sand and the dead rock. The rock is currently 'cooking'. I placed it in a bucket, in darkness, with a powerhead to aerate the water. I'm unsure of when I will know that the rock is ready. I also want to know the optimum conditions I can provide. Should I filter the water? I read that I should scrub the rock, but scrubbing did nothing to this rock even after it had soaked for 24 hours (although it does stink). I also have a bucket of sand/coral that was previously established. Is it safe to use whenever my rock is ready? Should I be cooking it as well? Also, can I use slightly salty / fresh water to cook my LR? I would like to have my aquarium set up in five weeks! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks so much! I included links to images of my sand and dead rock. Also, What media should I acquire to run in my canister filter? It is a fluval 404. I have already ordered some ceramic cylinders. I plan to have some small fish and anemones. The Sand The Rock

05/29/2008, 08:03 PM	#4
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	Why do you say the rock is dead rock? was it dried out for a long time? The fluval will work fine for now , eventually if the rock comes around you could probably run the tank with just powerheads and the skimmer. Cannister are known to be nitrate factories if not cleaned regularly but don't worry about that with the new tank for a while because you want the ceramic cylinders to build up their beneficial bacteria. filter floss will help polish the water also. I am not to sure about your rock but it should not smell when it is ready. I would imagine you should keep the salt levels where they should be for a marine tank otherwise they won't cure properly. Maybe someone else can chime in on this one. As for the sand, that looks like crushed coral, which I have in my 55g FOWLR tank for 6 years I have never been able to keep my nitrates down because they trap a lot of sediment. I would recommend some marine sand. dont waste your money on the "live" sand. Just get the dry stuff and then maybe you can get a couple of cups of live sand to seed the new sand from your LFS or a fellow reef enthusiast. I never had anemones before but I know the need pretty strong lighting and a well established tank at least 8 months. At least that is what i heard. Good luck! __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

05/29/2008, 07:42 PM	#2
brians4671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: miami fl Posts: 2,088	*To Reef Central*

05/29/2008, 08:15 PM	#5
ernestmyname Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 2	Thanks for the input. The rock has been sitting out of the aquarium for nearly a year. I spoke with the guy at the local saltwater store. He says that to put the rock straight into the aquarium would be a disaster. His first mention of uncontrollable algae was enough to send me home to dig out an empty rubbermaid container. He said that the dead bacteria that I am removing while cooking would be very bad for my tank. He said that it would be hard to get the water right if I put the rock straight in. Should I continue with the 'cooking' or go ahead and set up the aquarium?