reusing "dead" but once live sand

montanabay · 10/04/2006, 01:33 AM

Hi,

Starting up a used tank that has been cycling for a few years, the previous owner left his live sand it for with a little water to keep it wet. My question is, can I add water and live rock to this and let it cycle or should I clean the sand some how? If so, how do you clean "old" live sand? I imagine the little creatures that once lived in the sand are now dead and will provide the ammonia and possibly enough start up seed to have a cycling tank in a week or two?

Many thanks,

Josh

Trigeek · 10/04/2006, 04:57 AM

You can use the sand, but I would rinse it very well first. Rinse it until the water you rinse it with runs clear through the sand. What you will be starting with is new sand, so get some cupfuls of sand from fellow reefers, LFS etc. to reseed it. Liverock will also help to reseeed this. Use the shrimp method or fish food to help cycle the tank.

10/04/2006, 01:33 AM	#1
montanabay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 465	reusing "dead" but once live sand Hi, Starting up a used tank that has been cycling for a few years, the previous owner left his live sand it for with a little water to keep it wet. My question is, can I add water and live rock to this and let it cycle or should I clean the sand some how? If so, how do you clean "old" live sand? I imagine the little creatures that once lived in the sand are now dead and will provide the ammonia and possibly enough start up seed to have a cycling tank in a week or two? Many thanks, Josh

10/04/2006, 04:57 AM	#2
Trigeek Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Broward County, FL Posts: 638	You can use the sand, but I would rinse it very well first. Rinse it until the water you rinse it with runs clear through the sand. What you will be starting with is new sand, so get some cupfuls of sand from fellow reefers, LFS etc. to reseed it. Liverock will also help to reseeed this. Use the shrimp method or fish food to help cycle the tank.