Buying a used tank questions.

fuzzy_dunlop · 04/01/2011, 05:05 PM

This is my first post on Reef Central, I've just recently become fascinated with salt water tanks, and I must have one! I've had freshwater tanks all my life, currently I have a 55g mixed tropical, and a 125g cichlid.

I'm looking to buy myself a used saltwater setup, I've been reading these forums a lot lately and have learned a ton. I'm curious though, I'm looking to possibly buy a used tank in the near future. I'm wondering if I buy a used tank that is still running, what do I have to do to keep the live sand and live rock alive. The reason I ask is because I might not setup the tank right away. Lets say I don't set up and have the tank running for a week, how do I keep the rock and sand alive in this situation?

Thanks in advance.

bertoni · 04/01/2011, 05:28 PM

To Reef Central

The live rock and sand need to be kept in water with a heater and a powerhead going. The sand needs to be kept in about the same depth as the original tank, and the top 2 inches or so should be saved and put back on top. Pitching the sand is fine, too.

If you want to save coralline on the live rock, it'll need some illumination, too.

It might be easier to wait until you have time.

subisti · 04/01/2011, 09:00 PM

Yeah you will have atleast a nitrate spike when you move everything so it be better to wait till you can reset it up right away.

fuzzy_dunlop · 04/01/2011, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the reply's. I've had a change of plans this weekend, so I will have the time to set it up as soon as I get it, if I get it.

As far as transporting it, if i throw it in some clean bins with the saltwater, it should be alright for a few hours while I get everything situated, right? It's about an hour drive each way.

No livestock by the way.

Jabrams · 04/01/2011, 10:20 PM

Just mind the temp and oxygenation and everything should be ok.

You can purchase some large rubbermaid containers and keep everything alive if you know what your doing. You will need a pump for circulation, skimmer, and some lights to insure you have as little die off as possible.(rock dieoff mostly)

of course, the best possible scenario would be tear down and start up as quickly as possible.

100%hydrophylic · 04/01/2011, 10:25 PM

if you throw the liverock/livesand in some bins of saltwater? yea that would actually be good for like 24 hours. throw a power head in there and it would be good for like a month. do once every two week water changes in the bins and they could last years.

live rock isnt finicky. the sand is going to cause you some problems when you stir it up, however. not major problems, but still some problems. the kind of problems that tell you not to put any livestock in the tank for a week or so.

your tank is not going to have a very big cycle if all the rock is matured, but the sand will cause some nitrate spikes as mentioned earlier, and you are going to see some algae:

red slimey looking stuff: cyanobacteria
brown powdery coating: diatoms
Green fuzzy poofs: green hair algae

dont panic if you see any of these, its most likely because the sand got stirred up, and your best bet is do some water changes to remove the goop (crap trapped in the sand) that was released in the water, and then add some cleanup crew when things stabilize.

good luck and have fun!!!

04/01/2011, 05:05 PM	#1
fuzzy_dunlop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 77	Buying a used tank questions. This is my first post on Reef Central, I've just recently become fascinated with salt water tanks, and I must have one! I've had freshwater tanks all my life, currently I have a 55g mixed tropical, and a 125g cichlid. I'm looking to buy myself a used saltwater setup, I've been reading these forums a lot lately and have learned a ton. I'm curious though, I'm looking to possibly buy a used tank in the near future. I'm wondering if I buy a used tank that is still running, what do I have to do to keep the live sand and live rock alive. The reason I ask is because I might not setup the tank right away. Lets say I don't set up and have the tank running for a week, how do I keep the rock and sand alive in this situation? Thanks in advance.

04/01/2011, 05:28 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* The live rock and sand need to be kept in water with a heater and a powerhead going. The sand needs to be kept in about the same depth as the original tank, and the top 2 inches or so should be saved and put back on top. Pitching the sand is fine, too. If you want to save coralline on the live rock, it'll need some illumination, too. It might be easier to wait until you have time. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/01/2011, 10:20 PM	#5
Jabrams Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,188	Just mind the temp and oxygenation and everything should be ok. You can purchase some large rubbermaid containers and keep everything alive if you know what your doing. You will need a pump for circulation, skimmer, and some lights to insure you have as little die off as possible.(rock dieoff mostly) of course, the best possible scenario would be tear down and start up as quickly as possible. __________________ I Live South of the South, On The West coast of the East coast, on a Peninsula of a Peninsula

04/01/2011, 10:25 PM	#6
100%hydrophylic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: GA Posts: 1,636	if you throw the liverock/livesand in some bins of saltwater? yea that would actually be good for like 24 hours. throw a power head in there and it would be good for like a month. do once every two week water changes in the bins and they could last years. live rock isnt finicky. the sand is going to cause you some problems when you stir it up, however. not major problems, but still some problems. the kind of problems that tell you not to put any livestock in the tank for a week or so. your tank is not going to have a very big cycle if all the rock is matured, but the sand will cause some nitrate spikes as mentioned earlier, and you are going to see some algae: red slimey looking stuff: cyanobacteria brown powdery coating: diatoms Green fuzzy poofs: green hair algae dont panic if you see any of these, its most likely because the sand got stirred up, and your best bet is do some water changes to remove the goop (crap trapped in the sand) that was released in the water, and then add some cleanup crew when things stabilize. good luck and have fun!!! __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS

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04/01/2011, 09:00 PM	#3
subisti Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Alliance ohio Posts: 57	Yeah you will have atleast a nitrate spike when you move everything so it be better to wait till you can reset it up right away.

04/01/2011, 10:07 PM	#4
fuzzy_dunlop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 77	Thanks for the reply's. I've had a change of plans this weekend, so I will have the time to set it up as soon as I get it, if I get it. As far as transporting it, if i throw it in some clean bins with the saltwater, it should be alright for a few hours while I get everything situated, right? It's about an hour drive each way. No livestock by the way.