Running Tank Temporarily with No Live Rock?

Patrick Cox · 11/25/2012, 09:06 AM

I need some help addressing some issues I have with my tank. I have a 57G reef ready tank with the following inhabitants:

2 clownfish
1 Bubble Tip Anemone
1 Frogspawn
1 Elegance Coral
1 Duncan
1 Montipora

I also have red flatworms that I can't get rid of and my live rock has aiptasia and a strange form of hair algae.

I am getting ready to receive a new, larger aquarium and in this aquarium I plan to start fresh with new Pukani Live Rock that is currently cooking in my garage.

I know that in between setting up my new tank and transferring my live stock to the new tank, I will want to QT and treat my corals to ensure no flatworms or other pests make it into my new aquarium.

One option I am considering is to remove all live rock and sand from my current aquarium and then dip all corals and place them back into my bare aquarium until I am sure the pests are gone and my new tank is ready for inhabitants.

I have two questions related to this...

1. What precautions do I need to take when running this tank without live rock? Maybe after I treat the whole tank with flatworm exit I could add some new rock or other bio hosting media? Simply do lots of water changes?

2. I plan to add some eggcrate rack for my corals but I am not sure what to do with my Bubble Tip Anemone?

Thanks for your advice!

Patrick Cox · 11/25/2012, 08:03 PM

Thoughts/Suggestions? Thx!

Patrick Cox · 11/26/2012, 08:59 AM

OK, let's try it this way. Here is my plan to address these issues. Sound OK? And then once I am finished, how can I maintain adequate bio filtration in 57G of water for the roughly one month until I transfer to new aquarium?

1. Buy Rubbermaid holding bins (one for corals/fish, one for extra water)
2. Build eggcrate racks to fit in 57 (current aquarium)
3. Make about 30 gallons of FSW
4. Pump enough water from 57 through filter sock, into Rubbermaid holding bin to hold corals.
5. Add circulation pump and heater to holding bin
6. Remove LR from 57 and store dry for possible use in future or disposal.
7. Transfer corals to holding bin
8. Transfer fish to holding bin.
9. Pump remaining 57 water through filter sock to 2nd holding bin
10. Remove and dispose of sand currently in 57.
11. Clean 57 (should I clean with vinegar?)
12. Remove all water from sump and clean (should I clean with vinegar?)
13. Dispose of all reactor media
14. Clean reactors with vinegar
15. Clean Skimmer with vinegar
16. Clean circulation power heads with vinegar.
17. Clean return and reactor pumps with vinegar.
18. Remove and dispose of sponge filter media.
19. Move 57 to new temporary location.
20. Treat 2nd bin of 57 water with flatworm exit.
21. Add half of treated water back to cleaned 57.
22. Add enough FSW to 57 to cover corals when placed back in 57.
23. Treat coral bin with flatworm exit.
24. Remove and dip all corals with Coral RX.
25. Place corals back in 57 on eggcrate racks.
26. Transfer 2 clownfish back to 57.
27. Add half of treated coral water back to 57.
28. Finish filling 57 with FSW.

OK, whew, that will be a lot of work! But what I hope to have now is clean coral and clean aquarium water that still has some bacteria in it but no flatworms! Now, how do I maintain this environment for at least one month while my new tank and new dry rock gets properly cycled so I can start adding my corals to the new aquarium? (No live rock in this system. Only racks, corals, 2 clownfish, BTA, skimmer and carbon if needed.)

Thanks for suggestions!!!

ken6217 · 11/26/2012, 09:35 AM

Not the answer to your exact question, but do you have a friend or a store that can house the fish and inverts in the meantime? This fish could even go in a sump.
Ken

WhoDey64 · 11/26/2012, 10:11 AM

I have spent since Friday breaking down my 57 rimless to redo several things (sump, electrical, lighting) so we are in a similar boat. The key difference is that I set up my holding tank, a 20 gallon, and put the rock in it that had corals attached. My bioload is 2 firefish, 2 bar gobies, a six line, a jawfish and a small foxface + corals. Even with the liverock my ammonia spiked to the point that I am dosing amquel, over a month you will have issues. My suggestion is to run a bio-wheel or canister with ceramics on your display for a couple of weeks to establish a biological filter and then swap that over to your holding bin.

Patrick Cox · 11/26/2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoDey64

I have spent since Friday breaking down my 57 rimless to redo several things (sump, electrical, lighting) so we are in a similar boat. The key difference is that I set up my holding tank, a 20 gallon, and put the rock in it that had corals attached. My bioload is 2 firefish, 2 bar gobies, a six line, a jawfish and a small foxface + corals. Even with the liverock my ammonia spiked to the point that I am dosing amquel, over a month you will have issues. My suggestion is to run a bio-wheel or canister with ceramics on your display for a couple of weeks to establish a biological filter and then swap that over to your holding bin.

Thanks for your reply. Just to clarify, once I clean the 57, I am planning to set it back up but again, with NO live rock, but I will reconnect and run my sump and skimmer. So I could add sponges or bio media to the sump to host the beneficial bacteria. I am assuming that in this transfer process, I will maintain some of the bacteria in the water column.

So, this 57 will be my "QT" for about a month while my new tank cycles...etc. I do have live rock for my new tank cooking in my garage and I have added bacteria to the bin so hopefully my new tank will get a jump start with that as well as with me adding some of my current tank water.

So on the month long QT, do you think the sump with some sponges and media to hold beneficial bacteria will be enough for my tank? (2 fish and a few corals.)

Thanks again!

Patrick Cox · 11/27/2012, 11:50 AM

Now considering adding some bio balls to my current sump for a couple of weeks to build up some bacteria and then leaving them there once I remove all sand and live rock. Sound like a good idea? Again, I just need a transition period until my new tank is up and cycled and ready to add my corals and fish.

Thanks!

Patrick Cox · 11/28/2012, 01:15 PM

Thoughts on seeding some bio balls for my sump? Again, the object is to kill all flatworms and aiptasia from tank and corals. I have tried to do so about 5-6 times and with my rock, I just can't get there. So I need a way to maintain biological filtration for a month or so while I treat corals and ensure as pest free tank as possible. Once through this phase, I will move 2 clowns and corals to new aquarium with new seeded Pukani rock.

11/25/2012, 09:06 AM	#1
Patrick Cox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 1,697	Running Tank Temporarily with No Live Rock? I need some help addressing some issues I have with my tank. I have a 57G reef ready tank with the following inhabitants: 2 clownfish 1 Bubble Tip Anemone 1 Frogspawn 1 Elegance Coral 1 Duncan 1 Montipora I also have red flatworms that I can't get rid of and my live rock has aiptasia and a strange form of hair algae. I am getting ready to receive a new, larger aquarium and in this aquarium I plan to start fresh with new Pukani Live Rock that is currently cooking in my garage. I know that in between setting up my new tank and transferring my live stock to the new tank, I will want to QT and treat my corals to ensure no flatworms or other pests make it into my new aquarium. One option I am considering is to remove all live rock and sand from my current aquarium and then dip all corals and place them back into my bare aquarium until I am sure the pests are gone and my new tank is ready for inhabitants. I have two questions related to this... 1. What precautions do I need to take when running this tank without live rock? Maybe after I treat the whole tank with flatworm exit I could add some new rock or other bio hosting media? Simply do lots of water changes? 2. I plan to add some eggcrate rack for my corals but I am not sure what to do with my Bubble Tip Anemone? Thanks for your advice!

11/26/2012, 10:11 AM	#5
WhoDey64 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ft Lauderdale Florida Posts: 1,311	I have spent since Friday breaking down my 57 rimless to redo several things (sump, electrical, lighting) so we are in a similar boat. The key difference is that I set up my holding tank, a 20 gallon, and put the rock in it that had corals attached. My bioload is 2 firefish, 2 bar gobies, a six line, a jawfish and a small foxface + corals. Even with the liverock my ammonia spiked to the point that I am dosing amquel, over a month you will have issues. My suggestion is to run a bio-wheel or canister with ceramics on your display for a couple of weeks to establish a biological filter and then swap that over to your holding bin. __________________ My name is Robert and I am addicted to Nitrates.

11/25/2012, 08:03 PM	#2
Patrick Cox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 1,697	Thoughts/Suggestions? Thx!

11/26/2012, 08:59 AM	#3
Patrick Cox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 1,697	OK, let's try it this way. Here is my plan to address these issues. Sound OK? And then once I am finished, how can I maintain adequate bio filtration in 57G of water for the roughly one month until I transfer to new aquarium? 1. Buy Rubbermaid holding bins (one for corals/fish, one for extra water) 2. Build eggcrate racks to fit in 57 (current aquarium) 3. Make about 30 gallons of FSW 4. Pump enough water from 57 through filter sock, into Rubbermaid holding bin to hold corals. 5. Add circulation pump and heater to holding bin 6. Remove LR from 57 and store dry for possible use in future or disposal. 7. Transfer corals to holding bin 8. Transfer fish to holding bin. 9. Pump remaining 57 water through filter sock to 2nd holding bin 10. Remove and dispose of sand currently in 57. 11. Clean 57 (should I clean with vinegar?) 12. Remove all water from sump and clean (should I clean with vinegar?) 13. Dispose of all reactor media 14. Clean reactors with vinegar 15. Clean Skimmer with vinegar 16. Clean circulation power heads with vinegar. 17. Clean return and reactor pumps with vinegar. 18. Remove and dispose of sponge filter media. 19. Move 57 to new temporary location. 20. Treat 2nd bin of 57 water with flatworm exit. 21. Add half of treated water back to cleaned 57. 22. Add enough FSW to 57 to cover corals when placed back in 57. 23. Treat coral bin with flatworm exit. 24. Remove and dip all corals with Coral RX. 25. Place corals back in 57 on eggcrate racks. 26. Transfer 2 clownfish back to 57. 27. Add half of treated coral water back to 57. 28. Finish filling 57 with FSW. OK, whew, that will be a lot of work! But what I hope to have now is clean coral and clean aquarium water that still has some bacteria in it but no flatworms! Now, how do I maintain this environment for at least one month while my new tank and new dry rock gets properly cycled so I can start adding my corals to the new aquarium? (No live rock in this system. Only racks, corals, 2 clownfish, BTA, skimmer and carbon if needed.) Thanks for suggestions!!!

11/26/2012, 09:35 AM	#4
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Not the answer to your exact question, but do you have a friend or a store that can house the fish and inverts in the meantime? This fish could even go in a sump. Ken

11/27/2012, 11:50 AM	#7
Patrick Cox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 1,697	Now considering adding some bio balls to my current sump for a couple of weeks to build up some bacteria and then leaving them there once I remove all sand and live rock. Sound like a good idea? Again, I just need a transition period until my new tank is up and cycled and ready to add my corals and fish. Thanks!

11/28/2012, 01:15 PM	#8
Patrick Cox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 1,697	Thoughts on seeding some bio balls for my sump? Again, the object is to kill all flatworms and aiptasia from tank and corals. I have tried to do so about 5-6 times and with my rock, I just can't get there. So I need a way to maintain biological filtration for a month or so while I treat corals and ensure as pest free tank as possible. Once through this phase, I will move 2 clowns and corals to new aquarium with new seeded Pukani rock.