Setting up a new tank

[SRT80]

I have some questions on setting up a new tank.

I have decided I am no longer gonna fight the razor caulerpa in my 20 gal. I'm gonna setup a 15 gal. (24x12x12). I'm not gonna be using any live rock at all. I have some old live rock that is now dry. It's been sitting in a bucket for about 3 months now. So, this should be just like dry base rock now right?

I've done picked about 20-25lbs I will use. Since there is no life on this rock, what should I do to seed it? Use live sand? I might could get a cup of sand from my 80?

Are there any benefits to using some of the water from the 20 gal. Like when I do a water change, use that water in the new tank?

Any thoughts on setting this up?

Steve

 

[AdrianBryce]

Just give the dry rock a good rinse and maybe a scrub to get off any debris that might be on it. It will take longer to seed it with sand than rock I believe. Can you get another piece of caulerpa free rock to put in there? I don't think there will be any big benefit of using your old water. The bacteria is pretty much in the rock and sand. Plus what if you get a small piece of caulerpa in the water and it takes root, and you start this again. I would play it safe and start fresh. then throw all that other rock in a light qt for a few months til the algae dies. Also are you putting any coral from your 20 into your 15? Probably want to detach it completely from what it is on, be it plug or otherwise and start fresh there too.

 

[eyebedam]

Go barebottom with the new tank. It would look good.

 

[Esabasard]

I agree with the barebottom look. I did with my 20 long and love it.

 

[SRT80]

i have alot of the hairy mushrooms that have spreaded over the back glass. Gonna scrape those to attach to new rock.

Thanks for the info everyone. I might consider the bare bottom.

Steve

 

[AdrianBryce]

I am thinking of BB for my next pico tank.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Proceed carefully with very small tanks with no sand bed, As the more biological activity you can provide will benefit these small systems more than detract from them. JMO
Bill