Hey everyone, Good to be back into the hobby.... I had a reef tank for about 12 years and then had a son during covid, long story short I kept the tank in ok condition till my clownfish died of old age, before that all my corals died, not gonna say no fault of my own but it was devestating. Ive been working up to getting the epquipment back in order, just got some new kessil lights and replaced all my RODI filters so i can fill the tank back up.... the live rock has been sitting half in half out of water now for a few months (i havent been able to top off) there is some mold on the surface of the water. My question to everyone is what steps should i take to get her back going again. My plan is to clean out the mold and fill with water, get back to temp and do a fresh cycle. Any help is appreciated, thanks!
Left Tank for a long time, now want to reboot
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kfisc
Well-known member
You might be able to do that, and it may even work quite well. If you feel more risk-averse, I'd want a completely fresh start, removing all the rock, cleaning and scraping the tank of any deposits, and letting the rock sit in a vat of fresh salt water mix out of daylight for a month or so with a heater and a pump.
That’s what I’d do as well.
what would be the difference if i took the rock out and "washed" it, or if I did it in the tank... there is nothing alive in there and really there is only salt deposits on the glass and sump, I think if i replace the water and get the salinity to the correct value and just let it run wouldnt that be kinda the same thing. I already skimmed off all the white mold that was on the surface.... isnt the point of the live rock to be a living system and filter? Just curious. I have a rubbermade container i can use to put the rock in and cycle if necessary, but i have no salt at the moment, but a lot of ambition. Perhaps Ill get the new water in and get the rocks blasted off with a powerhead and then later perhaps take the rocks out and clean the tank. Thanks for your help
i got the tank filled up again fully, and the power gyro and sump return cleaned and working again, the heater is on and i just got a box of reef crystals... next plan is to clean the glass, let sit for a day or so, test salinity and do a pretty decent water change prob 30 gallons (about a 75 gallon system) nothing alive in there tho so should refresh everything. then ill get a new piece of live rock and throw a shrimp in there watch the ammonia spike and fall, then put a sacrifical chromis in after a few months and feed.. all good get a cleaner crew, wait... and then begin the journey if all is good. my apex is monitoring ph, temp and controls all the electronics. i think my journey has good roots.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
If you left the mold on there, you probably don't need a shrimp.
