Starting over help pls! =(

[findgnemo]

i've neglected my tank for a while now. i have a couple questions the live rock has bryopsis all over it. if i were to take out all my live rock. clean the sand then put the rock back in after a couple days would that be ok and kill the bryopsis? cause i can't even put a light on anymore without those things growing back within days!!!! also i had another tank i took down but kept the sand it was live sand now there's no more water in the tank just sand. can i mix that into my current tank that has been running?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

IMO I would cook the rock to rid the algae, put all the rock in a dark tub with a heater and powerhead and cover it so no light gets in. leave it be for 2-3 monthes doing regular weekly water changes.

also I wouldn't use the old sand, there is gonna be alot of dieoff in it that will cause you cycle problems.

 

[findgnemo]

what do you mean by cycle problems? since my tank has been up for 2 years it could be like starting over?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

adding subrate that has dead material in it will cause your tank to go through another cycle. the dead material will cause the ammonia.

I would just start with new sand. IMO

 

[Rustylugnuts]

cook the rock

+1

Be sure to keep up with the water changes to take care of any phosphates released (both bound to the rock and from dying algae). Tossing the sand or at least rinsing it would be a good idea. I rinsed out my sand bed after about 2 years and you wouldn't believe how much crap came out. I will definately get a mixing paddle before I rinse again, agitating it by hand takes forever. I've had some algae problems my self lately. A pair of media reactors (one for carbon and one for phosban) are deffinately on the shopping list after the move.