LIVE SAND (from 2 year old tank)

[dlaxer24]

i picked up some free live sand from someone here at reef central(it had bin in a tank for 2 years). it had bin in 5gals bukets for about 2 days. i mixed a 30gal tall tank of watter and got it to temp added the sand then when it started to settle i put a powerhead in there. i see some dead pods in there but i see what looks like worm tracks in the sand.
is most of it dead?

how long will it last like this?anything im not doing to keep it alive?

how can i get it cycled good to start my tank?just wait?water changes?

will it ever fully cycle or in a tank will i get a cycle every time the sand is tuched?

 

[dlaxer24]

bump

 

[Costa Randy]

I went through a similar experience when I set up my 55 gallon tank. Many of the inverts died, but just as many lived. Maintain your temperature, pH and salinity. Also provide 8 to 10 hours of lighting and keep up the water movement. Without any predation the inverts will multiply. Most recommend that you add cured live rock, then maybe some hermit crabs and snails. After 4 to 6 weeks you can add a fish or 2. Your tank will not have an opportunity to properly cycle until the fish jump start the process

 

[dlaxer24]

Thanks for the help. any more info anyone?

 

[Scuba_Steve]

ok a little bit of mis information here. first of all, your live rock will jump start your cycle, you dont need fish to do this. live rock is covered with bacterial much like the sand is. this bacterial is the vary thing that beaks down ammonia and such. without corals in your tank, lighting is not really needed. in fact many suggest that you cook your rocks in total darkness for a few weeks to kill of any macro algae thus only keeping it in a refugium and not in the display. the fact that you say you see worm trails is more than enough to let you know your sand is very alive. it sometimes just takes some time for the pods to come out and play. (and multiply) give it a month and if you still dont see anything then look at night with a red or blue lense led flashlight. i garantee you will see more life than you expected.

 

[Blown 346]

The used live sand depending on what part of it was actually taken out of the old tank could lead to a cycle from all the junk the sand collects over that period of time.
I would add the sand, rock, let it sit with a power head etc, and test the water after a few days and see what type of cycle you have.