water

Holyreefer · 11/05/2010, 09:57 AM

So me and my family were relocated by my wifes job for 2months. i have 210gallons and 40 gallon breeder sump i emptied the sump but the water has been seating for a little over two months without movement but it has like 180 gallons of water it it still. I probably know better but can i drain 50% of this water and reuse the other 50%? As i have taken my corals and fish with me once we made the move...

DustinB · 11/05/2010, 10:39 AM

This is pure speculation based on no hard scientific knowledge, but...

I would say it is likely not ok being that it is not new water. The water likely contains many forms of bacteria along with now dead microorganisms. It "might" be ok to use all or part of it if you don't mind a long cycle.

isildursbane · 11/05/2010, 10:46 AM

If you were to drain 50% of the water over to another tank and mix it in with new water, that would probably be okay. Any die-off and other nasty stuff I would think would be on any rock or sand in the tank. That is the only thing I would be worried with. I would try starting up the tank and getting the pumps going. Maybe throw a few shrimp in for starting the cycle. Then see how the tank looks after a few days.

Holyreefer · 11/05/2010, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the reply guys. My problem is ill have to wait like another 3 days for all new ro water to fill the tank...and im not sure my corals can make it longer as the drive from Miami to wi was already bad enough...

DustinB · 11/05/2010, 11:03 AM

I wouldn't try it without cycle time due to the possibility of bacteria and dead organic material. I think you would be begging for a bacterial bloom or large ammonia spike if you did.

Holyreefer · 11/06/2010, 07:27 PM

i just emptied out the entire tank and started water from Stratch. Thanks everyone for your input

Holyreefer · 11/14/2010, 10:47 PM

^bump^

Holyreefer · 11/14/2010, 10:49 PM

OK so now that i have gotten all new water, The stuff seating smelled like rotten eggs so bad...But my question is now im sure i shuold be expecting a 2 week cycle even though my LR has already been through its cycle?

Technically this is a new tank setup because i had to get all new water,etc...?

Palting · 11/14/2010, 11:35 PM

I couldn't figure out from your posts where your liverock was during this whole time. Was it sitting in the old water with no movement for 2 months? Was it in a tub awaiting the new tank and water? Need more info on the history of the rocks starting from when you started to take the old tank down.

Anyway, if there has been a significant downtime where the rocks were not in an active environment with circulation and heat and lights, then you have to start the cycling process all over again and cure the rocks all over again.

Where are your fish and corals now?

Holyreefer · 11/15/2010, 10:18 PM

my bad the tank was sitting water only nd LR for two months
The fish i had got either sold or taken to a fish store
The little bit of coral i did have i tried to keep it up and going but i didn't realilze how much i was lacking (material wise) in FL

im starting from scratch then...

With all of this LR do i need to kick start my system with raw shrimp?

DustinB · 11/16/2010, 08:35 AM

If the rock was sitting in stagnant water for 2 months, the rock probably started the cycle.

Palting · 11/16/2010, 09:18 AM

Yup, sounds like you have to start from scratch. Good news is that you probably have a healthy population of nitrosomas and nitrobacter to start with, and it may be a short cycle.

DustinB · 11/16/2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

Good news is that you probably have a healthy population of nitrosomas and nitrobacter to start with, and it may be a short cycle.

I would argue the opposite of this. After sitting in stagnant water with no light there is going to be a lot of die off along with nasty compounds, especially given that he is noticing a strong rotten egg smell. There's likely going to be a good amount of dead material that will need to break down and I doubt that's going to happen quickly.

Either way, take your time and test each week to see what's happening.

Palting · 11/16/2010, 09:54 AM

I missed that part about the rotten egg smell. Means lots of dead stuff, as well as toxic stuff. You may be right, Dustin.

Holyreefer · 11/16/2010, 05:05 PM

ok so im done with my cycle since the LR has already been cycled due to the rotten eggs smell, die off? Ok cool then i can start purchasing fish and coral again...Thanks guys

DustinB · 11/16/2010, 05:37 PM

NO! Your cycle will likely take longer due to a fair amount of dead organic matter contained in and on the rocks. Putting fresh saltwater in the tank and getting it running again will kick off the "cycle". You should be testing for ammonia/nitrite for the next several weeks until your ammonia level reaches 0. The start testing nitrate along with continuing nitrite. Once ammonia and nitrite have been 0 for 2-3 weeks then you cycle is probably complete.

From there you should slowly add one fish at a time to make sure the bacterial populations grow to adapt to the increased bioload.

Holyreefer · 11/16/2010, 10:30 PM

Ok thanks

11/05/2010, 09:57 AM	#1
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	water So me and my family were relocated by my wifes job for 2months. i have 210gallons and 40 gallon breeder sump i emptied the sump but the water has been seating for a little over two months without movement but it has like 180 gallons of water it it still. I probably know better but can i drain 50% of this water and reuse the other 50%? As i have taken my corals and fish with me once we made the move... __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

11/05/2010, 10:46 AM	#3
isildursbane Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 219	If you were to drain 50% of the water over to another tank and mix it in with new water, that would probably be okay. Any die-off and other nasty stuff I would think would be on any rock or sand in the tank. That is the only thing I would be worried with. I would try starting up the tank and getting the pumps going. Maybe throw a few shrimp in for starting the cycle. Then see how the tank looks after a few days. __________________ 29BC -- 20lbs LR -- 3 to 4-inch sandbed -- LR rubble for fuge(setup in Chamber 2) -- 3 Cerith Snails and 1 Trochus for CUC

11/05/2010, 10:57 AM	#4
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	Thanks for the reply guys. My problem is ill have to wait like another 3 days for all new ro water to fill the tank...and im not sure my corals can make it longer as the drive from Miami to wi was already bad enough... __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

11/06/2010, 07:27 PM	#6
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	i just emptied out the entire tank and started water from Stratch. Thanks everyone for your input __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

11/14/2010, 10:47 PM	#7
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	^bump^ __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

11/05/2010, 10:39 AM	#2
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	This is pure speculation based on no hard scientific knowledge, but... I would say it is likely not ok being that it is not new water. The water likely contains many forms of bacteria along with now dead microorganisms. It "might" be ok to use all or part of it if you don't mind a long cycle.

11/05/2010, 11:03 AM	#5
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	I wouldn't try it without cycle time due to the possibility of bacteria and dead organic material. I think you would be begging for a bacterial bloom or large ammonia spike if you did.

11/14/2010, 10:49 PM	#8
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	OK so now that i have gotten all new water, The stuff seating smelled like rotten eggs so bad...But my question is now im sure i shuold be expecting a 2 week cycle even though my LR has already been through its cycle? Technically this is a new tank setup because i had to get all new water,etc...? __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

11/14/2010, 11:35 PM	#9
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I couldn't figure out from your posts where your liverock was during this whole time. Was it sitting in the old water with no movement for 2 months? Was it in a tub awaiting the new tank and water? Need more info on the history of the rocks starting from when you started to take the old tank down. Anyway, if there has been a significant downtime where the rocks were not in an active environment with circulation and heat and lights, then you have to start the cycling process all over again and cure the rocks all over again. Where are your fish and corals now? __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

11/15/2010, 10:18 PM	#10
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	my bad the tank was sitting water only nd LR for two months The fish i had got either sold or taken to a fish store The little bit of coral i did have i tried to keep it up and going but i didn't realilze how much i was lacking (material wise) in FL im starting from scratch then... With all of this LR do i need to kick start my system with raw shrimp? __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads Last edited by Holyreefer; 11/15/2010 at 10:40 PM.

11/16/2010, 08:35 AM	#11
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	If the rock was sitting in stagnant water for 2 months, the rock probably started the cycle.

11/16/2010, 09:18 AM	#12
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Yup, sounds like you have to start from scratch. Good news is that you probably have a healthy population of nitrosomas and nitrobacter to start with, and it may be a short cycle. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

11/16/2010, 09:54 AM	#14
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I missed that part about the rotten egg smell. Means lots of dead stuff, as well as toxic stuff. You may be right, Dustin. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

11/16/2010, 05:05 PM	#15
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	ok so im done with my cycle since the LR has already been cycled due to the rotten eggs smell, die off? Ok cool then i can start purchasing fish and coral again...Thanks guys __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

11/16/2010, 05:37 PM	#16
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	NO! Your cycle will likely take longer due to a fair amount of dead organic matter contained in and on the rocks. Putting fresh saltwater in the tank and getting it running again will kick off the "cycle". You should be testing for ammonia/nitrite for the next several weeks until your ammonia level reaches 0. The start testing nitrate along with continuing nitrite. Once ammonia and nitrite have been 0 for 2-3 weeks then you cycle is probably complete. From there you should slowly add one fish at a time to make sure the bacterial populations grow to adapt to the increased bioload.

11/16/2010, 10:30 PM	#17
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,242	Ok thanks __________________ Life is what you make it, so make something out of everything you do! Current Tank Info: GYRE 150,Seaswirl 1.5, Barcuda Pump, Custom LED system, Extreme Reef Octopus 300 Protein Skimmer, 80 watt Aqua UV, Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate, Hydor Magnum 8 Powerheads

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Water for water changes? Ice Mountain water in a bottle	pgaschulz	New to the Hobby	4	01/27/2008 08:25 PM
water flow, water flow, water flow	PhilliePhil	New to the Hobby	2	08/21/2007 04:22 PM
Lowering PH - Seltzer water, tonic water, and soda water. Which?	Arkayne	New to the Hobby	6	07/13/2007 11:00 AM
RO/DI unit with well water? RO/DI water to waste water ratio?	jacksparrow7	New to the Hobby	22	03/29/2007 08:26 PM
Using leveluk Kangen miracle water for fish top off water and salt water?	xunkn0vvnx	Reef Discussion	6	11/06/2006 03:05 AM