5 year old rock and sand?

salttess · 08/21/2010, 08:31 PM

After hurricane Katrina, I stored some of the rock from my tank in a bucket and sand also in other buckets. I didnt clean them just threw them in (was disgusted that I lost all). Well, I want to use them again and know how to wash the sand. But, not sure about rock. What would you do? Can I scrub the old dry rock and throw it in new tank to cycle with old sand? My tank at time of hurricane was very mature and rock was covered with stuff. Just had too much to worry about with the house and all to worry about cleaning rock. Thanks, Tina
PS I am setting up a 45 gal. octagon tank.

tibob32 · 08/21/2010, 09:04 PM

were it me, I'd get rid of the sand. I've tried washing sand and it's just not worth it. Ideally you'd want to cook the rocks before putting them in the tank, it'd save you ehadaches down the road, but just curing them would work too.

sedor · 08/21/2010, 09:14 PM

You'll be fine just throwing the rock into the tank. Keep in mind that there is probably very little left on the rock to die off and start a cycle in the new tank. If you just toss them in you may not get any ammonia spikes and thus thing your tank is ready to go when its not. Don't forget to throw a shrimp or two in there and preferably a piece of actual live rock from your LFS to help start seeding all that old stuff.

cilyjr · 08/21/2010, 09:20 PM

i have washed very old sand. put it in a bucket and shoved a hose to the bottom and ran it until it ran (not quite) clear. it takes time to get all the dead creatures out, but you can easily get to a point where the sand is very usable. as for the rock throw it in a bucket of salt water with 1 or 2 lbs of live rock and keep testing until your nitrates are 0. throw in a few 50% water changes for good measure and you will have good live rock again. you were smart not throwing it all away!

noobtothereef · 08/21/2010, 11:51 PM

yep as long as the buckets have been sealed and nothing has gotten in there id say go for it!!

salttess · 08/22/2010, 09:36 AM

Thankyou all! Im gonna go for it.

chumm · 08/22/2010, 10:28 AM

let us know how it goes...

chumm · 08/22/2010, 10:32 AM

i've got several buckets of old sand and live rock rubble and thinking of trying something similar...

outy · 08/22/2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cilyjr

i have washed very old sand. put it in a bucket and shoved a hose to the bottom and ran it until it ran (not quite) clear. it takes time to get all the dead creatures out, but you can easily get to a point where the sand is very usable. as for the rock throw it in a bucket of salt water with 1 or 2 lbs of live rock and keep testing until your nitrates are 0. throw in a few 50% water changes for good measure and you will have good live rock again. you were smart not throwing it all away!

+1

its all reusable, sand washes easy taking out old detritus and rocks should be rinsed well

salttess · 08/22/2010, 01:14 PM

I think I will add a cup of sand from my 240 and a rock from there to seed things.

and of course a piece of shrimp.

08/21/2010, 08:31 PM	#1
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	5 year old rock and sand? After hurricane Katrina, I stored some of the rock from my tank in a bucket and sand also in other buckets. I didnt clean them just threw them in (was disgusted that I lost all). Well, I want to use them again and know how to wash the sand. But, not sure about rock. What would you do? Can I scrub the old dry rock and throw it in new tank to cycle with old sand? My tank at time of hurricane was very mature and rock was covered with stuff. Just had too much to worry about with the house and all to worry about cleaning rock. Thanks, Tina PS I am setting up a 45 gal. octagon tank.

08/21/2010, 09:14 PM	#3
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	You'll be fine just throwing the rock into the tank. Keep in mind that there is probably very little left on the rock to die off and start a cycle in the new tank. If you just toss them in you may not get any ammonia spikes and thus thing your tank is ready to go when its not. Don't forget to throw a shrimp or two in there and preferably a piece of actual live rock from your LFS to help start seeding all that old stuff. __________________ Ryan

08/21/2010, 09:20 PM	#4
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	i have washed very old sand. put it in a bucket and shoved a hose to the bottom and ran it until it ran (not quite) clear. it takes time to get all the dead creatures out, but you can easily get to a point where the sand is very usable. as for the rock throw it in a bucket of salt water with 1 or 2 lbs of live rock and keep testing until your nitrates are 0. throw in a few 50% water changes for good measure and you will have good live rock again. you were smart not throwing it all away! __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

08/21/2010, 11:51 PM	#5
noobtothereef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: council bluffs iowa Posts: 1,530	yep as long as the buckets have been sealed and nothing has gotten in there id say go for it!! __________________ 120g custom acrylic, dart return, dart closed loop, 2-evo-1400's, RKE, xtreme 200, 80g sump/fuge, 240lbs rock, ssb, 2-250w mh, 2x54 t5, ato Current Tank Info: 120gallon 2-darts, 2-evo 1400's...piles of flow.. RKE with an easy button

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08/21/2010, 09:04 PM	#2
tibob32 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 550	were it me, I'd get rid of the sand. I've tried washing sand and it's just not worth it. Ideally you'd want to cook the rocks before putting them in the tank, it'd save you ehadaches down the road, but just curing them would work too.

08/22/2010, 09:36 AM	#6
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	Thankyou all! Im gonna go for it.

08/22/2010, 10:28 AM	#7
chumm Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio Posts: 59	let us know how it goes...

08/22/2010, 10:32 AM	#8
chumm Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio Posts: 59	i've got several buckets of old sand and live rock rubble and thinking of trying something similar...

08/22/2010, 01:14 PM	#10
salttess Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 620	I think I will add a cup of sand from my 240 and a rock from there to seed things. and of course a piece of shrimp.