sick tank

[Jennifier615]

The tank I purchased was a great deal, but as with all things used you buy the previous owners issues too. The water quality was horrendous, the lighting is not 100 (due to a bulb out). The question I have is I added new fresh water with the corret salinity when we re-assembled the tank. There is some fine dusty detrious type material all over my crushed coral bed. Should I vacuum it? Or finish letting the tank stabilize then go with a big cleaning crew, and detrious eaters.....?

 

[AdrianBryce]

I would get rid of the crushed coral. it is going to be a detritus trap.

 

[Mikeyjer]

I would get rid of the crushed coral. it is going to be a detritus trap.

Adrian is right about that, BUT if you keep a low bed of crushed coral and vacuum it often on a weekly basis, you shouldn't have any problem. I used to have a tank with crushed coral, never had any problem cause I vacuum it on a weekly basis.

 

[Jennifier615]

Can I just dump livesand on top of it? Almost everything in the tank is dead anyways. I put all the living stuff in my smaller tank for fear they would all die.

 

[pelagic7]

maybe you can find someone to keep your stuff for a while before you cycle your tank again. I think it will be easier if you restart it... old sand is usually pretty dangerous if you don't clean it first.

 

[Pickupman66]

Dumping live sand on top would be a MAJOR mistake. Doing that would trap detritus in the CC and you will end up with a major problem in a few months/years. If I were you, I would remove it all, put down either Live sand or dry sand, then put the rock back in. since you dont have any livestock in there, I would just bite the bullet and start properly. my old 75 had crushed coral. I ended up removing it all and put down sand. tank was much more healthy after that.

Especially if the previous owner wasnt the best caretaker.

what kind of lighting did it come with?

Oh and FWIW, when I got my 180, I dumped 100% of the old sand that was in it. I bought some sand from Poolkeeper and rinsed the tar out of it as it was left to dry out so I basically had dry sand. I kept the rock wet and "live" and had only a small cycle in the tank. its been a month and the only evidence of cycle I had was green hair algae which the new tangs I have demolished quickly.

 

[supertech99]

you can mix crushed coral and sand (i do it for a natural look in all my tanks just personal preference) but you cannot just dump sand on top of the crush coral you have in there already, did you clean the crushed coral? I agree that crushed coral alone can be a serious issue if not maintained correctly, and extensivley. If you dont have any life in the tank yet I'd start over, now is the time to take the extra time to do it right! It will be too late later when you have a algee problem that you can't get rid of!

 

[poolkeeper1]

As you see all tanks are not equal, Had you bought Zach's tank you would be having none of these issues! As it was well taken care of and was all brand new.
You get what you pay for in this hobby, In the long run cheaper alway's is more. JMHO
Bill

 

[AdrianBryce]

oh snap!

 

[Jennifier615]

Oh I know.....and I knew I was taking a risk and may just end up with an empty tank to start all over. In worst case scenario I got a tank, lights, sump, refugium, calcium and phosban reactor, and 150lbs of live rock for considerably less(and within my budget).

 

[Jennifier615]

oh yeah chiller and ato unit

 

[Mikeyjer]

If nothing is live anyway, I would just dump out all that crushed coral and put in dry sand (I would wash the heck out of it before using!!!!). You can place a few cups of live sand from your other tank on top of dead sand and it will seed it. It takes time but it's well worth it!!!! Sounds like you got yourself a deal there!!!!

 

[Pickupman66]

Jen, sounds like you got a deal similar to mine. dump the crushed coral. in the long run you will be WAY happier. that and im sure there is some sand around here you can pick up cheap.

 

[Jennifier615]

I am fixing to take all my live rock back out and re-vacuum the crushed coral which the tank is straightening back out now things are thriving then I am mixing in some seeded and ready to go livesand to make it about a 50/50 mix.....all my mushrooms and green star polyps that were in the tank are all coming back and healthy

 

[poolkeeper1]

That will not rid the crushed coral of all the Phosphate It has absorbed over the years it was in use. The best thing is to toss that stuff and put new sand in the tank, You will avoid many problems down the road by doing it right now. JMO
Bill

 

[orthokardia]

or just go bare bottom

 

[Pickupman66]

Bart, I promise not to tell your Mrs that you told another chick to go bare bottom!

<--- has had a few.