5 year old rock and sand?

[salttess]

After hurricane Katrina, I stored some of the rock from my tank in a bucket and sand also in other buckets. I didnt clean them just threw them in (was disgusted that I lost all). Well, I want to use them again and know how to wash the sand. But, not sure about rock. What would you do? Can I scrub the old dry rock and throw it in new tank to cycle with old sand? My tank at time of hurricane was very mature and rock was covered with stuff. Just had too much to worry about with the house and all to worry about cleaning rock. Thanks, Tina
PS I am setting up a 45 gal. octagon tank.

 

[tibob32]

were it me, I'd get rid of the sand. I've tried washing sand and it's just not worth it. Ideally you'd want to cook the rocks before putting them in the tank, it'd save you ehadaches down the road, but just curing them would work too.

 

[sedor]

You'll be fine just throwing the rock into the tank. Keep in mind that there is probably very little left on the rock to die off and start a cycle in the new tank. If you just toss them in you may not get any ammonia spikes and thus thing your tank is ready to go when its not. Don't forget to throw a shrimp or two in there and preferably a piece of actual live rock from your LFS to help start seeding all that old stuff.

 

[cilyjr]

i have washed very old sand. put it in a bucket and shoved a hose to the bottom and ran it until it ran (not quite) clear. it takes time to get all the dead creatures out, but you can easily get to a point where the sand is very usable. as for the rock throw it in a bucket of salt water with 1 or 2 lbs of live rock and keep testing until your nitrates are 0. throw in a few 50% water changes for good measure and you will have good live rock again. you were smart not throwing it all away!

 

[noobtothereef]

yep as long as the buckets have been sealed and nothing has gotten in there id say go for it!!

 

[salttess]

Thankyou all! Im gonna go for it.

 

[chumm]

let us know how it goes...

 

[chumm]

i've got several buckets of old sand and live rock rubble and thinking of trying something similar...

 

[outy]

i have washed very old sand. put it in a bucket and shoved a hose to the bottom and ran it until it ran (not quite) clear. it takes time to get all the dead creatures out, but you can easily get to a point where the sand is very usable. as for the rock throw it in a bucket of salt water with 1 or 2 lbs of live rock and keep testing until your nitrates are 0. throw in a few 50% water changes for good measure and you will have good live rock again. you were smart not throwing it all away!

+1

its all reusable, sand washes easy taking out old detritus and rocks should be rinsed well

 

[salttess]

I think I will add a cup of sand from my 240 and a rock from there to seed things. :fun4: and of course a piece of shrimp.