greenish water???

[NCreefwannabe]

ok so im not new to the hobby, but I just setup my 90G RR setup again after a 2 year hiatus...

ro-di water 0 tds, brand new unit

but my water has a greenish tint now and it smells kinda funky.
I blame the rock, its completely dead but has been in a tub of SW for 2 years just chillin in my closet sealed up. I havent even mixed the salt in yet because im not quite sure what to do??? should I mix it and assume this is jumpstarting the cycle or start the cycle or what?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Take the rock out and drain the tank.

Then, soak the rock in freshwater (in a bin or tub or something) for a day or so to loosen stuff up. Scrub it off and rinse it well with a hose or something similar.

Your problem is that the rock is totally encrusted with dead stuff. You need to get that dead stuff off, or it'll totally ruin any attempt you make at setting up your tank.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

well I scrubbed the rock before it went into the tub before and rinsed it before it went in the tank

if its full of dead stuff, wouldnt this be the sme as a huge cycle? Or will the water never be able to clear up with carbon and skimming?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

It will be the same as a huge cycle, but if there's enough dead stuff that the water is green and it stinks real bad, it's gonna be a HUGE HUGE cycle. With modern nutrient export methods, there's absolutely no reason to submit a tank to a cycle that large (it'll never again need that high of a nutrient-processing capability on it's own.)

Plus, since the rock is totally dead at this point, there's no real need to try to save *anything* on it - you want it purely for structural purposes, and so it can be recolonized in the future. So there's really no reason to *not* clean it really, really thoroughly at this point.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

yea but i cant really clean it any better than I already have aside from dropping it in bleach... I dont mind going through a crazy cycle, I dont plan to add anything to this tank for atleast another month anyways. I just wasnt sure if it was a cycle going on or if there was something else wrong.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

If you haven't added salt yet (I'm guessing based on the statements in your fist post), it's not a meaningful cycle, and any bacteria that develop now will eventually get wiped out.

IMHO you should take a few minutes and read through posts in this forum. The vast majority of "long term" struggles reefers face are due to nutrient overload. Right now, you have an opportunity to help prevent that in your tank. It's great that you already tried washing the rock, but if it's greening the water and stinking up the place, it's clear that there is still a lot of material on there.

At the very least, drain the tank and start over with new water, rather than just mix salt into what's in there now.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

it only smells funky if i actually put my face over the tank.
how else can I clean this rock then? Its already seen freshwater in the tank, freshwater before the tank with a big brush and saltwater after the initial teardown witha toothbrush, the old dunk/swish action lol.

the tank has been online since last night when it finally finished filling, did a day of freshwater dryrun type deal for any possibility of leaks, then tonight I was going to add the salt.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

You’re just going to have to cure the rock, which will take about 2 months. Put the rock in a rubbermaid filled with salt water and apply a heater and a power head or 2 to get good flow. Blow off rock with a power head and change about 20% sometimes more of water every week or so and continue until you have 0 amm and 0 nitrites. Then you can safely put the rock in your tank.
Your still going to need some boi-diversity live sand, sand from other established tanks and maybe a few lbs of already cured live rock.

Good luck and welcome back to the hobby.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

any ideas on cleaning it better? going to start draining tomorrow probably get it down to 2" above the sand line and most of it from the sump and start over.

Also how bad would it be to fill the tank with both the di and the waste water from my 5 stage setup? Im assuming the waste water is still RO, because it tastes really good lol.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14794410#post14794410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sisterlimonpot
You’re just going to have to cure the rock, which will take about 2 months. Put the rock in a rubbermaid filled with salt water and apply a heater and a power head or 2 to get good flow. Blow off rock with a power head and change about 20% sometimes more of water every week or so and continue until you have 0 amm and 0 nitrites. Then you can safely put the rock in your tank.
Your still going to need some boi-diversity live sand, sand from other established tanks and maybe a few lbs of already cured live rock.

Good luck and welcome back to the hobby.

Ive got some well established rock and sand to add once the cycle is complete.

but im def not waiting 2 months to cure this rock again.... ill just tear the tank down again before I wait another 2 months lol. Ive had to stare at it for 2 years in sadness. my patience draws the line at a 1 month cycle after so much time.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

No no no. the waste water is from what couldn't be pushed through the RO membrane. it will be high in TDS. and you don't want it in your tank.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

haha weird it tastes so much better than my regular tap. maybe im just imagining things, so much for drinking that anymore then lol.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

It’s not going to harm you per say (more concentrated minerals). but not good for you tank, that's for sure.

 

[S_Stoney_S]

you make me smile. Its labelled 'waste' for a reason

Don't lose heart the cycle doesn't always take so long

 

[NCreefwannabe]

I dont mind a long cycle. the taking all the rock back out scrubbing what ive scrubbed alredy and "hoping" it works again is what kills me. Im goin to drain it tomorrow and refill. I dont see any sense in attempting to clean this rock anymore than I already have since the only way I know how to clean more is with boiling water or bleach... neither of which im going to do.

If it doesnt work this time **** it.... Ill sell it, more money towards the car.