Getting Restarted

CKB · 10/29/2006, 02:31 PM

I have a 29 gallon salt water tank that was established about 5 years ago. We finally lost all of the fish in the tank and unplugged it about 3 - 4 months ago (no heat, no light, no water circulation, nothing). We are wanting to get an upright octagon tank to replace this tank. Although we had unplugged the tank, the live rock and sand have been covered by salt water this whole time. My question is: Are my live rock and sand ok to transfer into a new tank? Also, can I re-use the remaining water?
Any help would be appreciated.

herostar · 10/29/2006, 02:36 PM

I'm gunna guess that those rocks are nasty. Did you ever add topoff water? If not the salinity is probably so high that everything died. Just for fun you could check the parameters to see where they're at, but I'd guess lots of ammonia and nothing is really usable. If you wanted to try though, you could do a water change every other day for a week with the heater in and circulation and see what happens. You never know. With enough time/effort they could probably be reused. I would clean everything off before you start over again too... you would more than likely need to add some "fresh" live rock and maybe sand to get the system jump started again after you've done the changes and cleaning.

CKB · 10/29/2006, 08:13 PM

I haven't added any top off water in a long time. I guess I would be just as well off to just start all over again. I didn't know about how the live rock and sand would react, but I can see what you are saying about high salinity.
Thanks for the advice!

2fishy · 10/29/2006, 08:17 PM

I don't know about the sand but I think that you can put the rock into another container with new saltwater and try recuring the rock, if that makes sense. I don't know if anything is still alive but you could always use it as base rock in your new aquarium.

bpd964 · 10/29/2006, 08:28 PM

I agree that your rock might be a mess right now. Either cook your rock or cure it again before using it. Not too sure about the sand. Might cause you problems. I would get new sand and start fresh..

Shagsbeard · 10/29/2006, 08:30 PM

You can use the rock as base... it will be re-inhabitted. You have to clean it, and dry it. I wouldn't re-use the sand, but I suppose you could clean it and re-use it too. I wouldn't use either without cleaning and drying. You've got all sorts of the wrong stuff growing in it by now. Using the water again is really out of the question.

CKB · 10/30/2006, 06:59 PM

Wow, thanks for all of the advice! I really appreciate it.
I will save the rock, clean it and dry it, get new sand and new water. After that, I think I will let the tank sit for a while with no fish and keep testing the water before I introduce fish into it.

10/29/2006, 02:31 PM	#1
CKB Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery City MO Posts: 3	Getting Restarted I have a 29 gallon salt water tank that was established about 5 years ago. We finally lost all of the fish in the tank and unplugged it about 3 - 4 months ago (no heat, no light, no water circulation, nothing). We are wanting to get an upright octagon tank to replace this tank. Although we had unplugged the tank, the live rock and sand have been covered by salt water this whole time. My question is: Are my live rock and sand ok to transfer into a new tank? Also, can I re-use the remaining water? Any help would be appreciated.

10/29/2006, 02:36 PM	#2
herostar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 1,024	I'm gunna guess that those rocks are nasty. Did you ever add topoff water? If not the salinity is probably so high that everything died. Just for fun you could check the parameters to see where they're at, but I'd guess lots of ammonia and nothing is really usable. If you wanted to try though, you could do a water change every other day for a week with the heater in and circulation and see what happens. You never know. With enough time/effort they could probably be reused. I would clean everything off before you start over again too... you would more than likely need to add some "fresh" live rock and maybe sand to get the system jump started again after you've done the changes and cleaning. __________________ Do a good turn daily. Current Tank Info: 58g Oceanic (Est. 2007)

10/29/2006, 08:17 PM	#4
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	I don't know about the sand but I think that you can put the rock into another container with new saltwater and try recuring the rock, if that makes sense. I don't know if anything is still alive but you could always use it as base rock in your new aquarium. __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

10/29/2006, 08:13 PM	#3
CKB Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery City MO Posts: 3	I haven't added any top off water in a long time. I guess I would be just as well off to just start all over again. I didn't know about how the live rock and sand would react, but I can see what you are saying about high salinity. Thanks for the advice!

10/29/2006, 08:28 PM	#5
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	I agree that your rock might be a mess right now. Either cook your rock or cure it again before using it. Not too sure about the sand. Might cause you problems. I would get new sand and start fresh..

10/29/2006, 08:30 PM	#6
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	You can use the rock as base... it will be re-inhabitted. You have to clean it, and dry it. I wouldn't re-use the sand, but I suppose you could clean it and re-use it too. I wouldn't use either without cleaning and drying. You've got all sorts of the wrong stuff growing in it by now. Using the water again is really out of the question.

10/30/2006, 06:59 PM	#7
CKB Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery City MO Posts: 3	Wow, thanks for all of the advice! I really appreciate it. I will save the rock, clean it and dry it, get new sand and new water. After that, I think I will let the tank sit for a while with no fish and keep testing the water before I introduce fish into it.