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Fraser · Feb 9, 2015

Hey everyone just joined the site. I had my 55 gal set up over 2 years ago and had it running for one year i shut it down due to moving from NC to MI and now im rdy to get back into it again. I just need some guidance on how i set it back up.

1. I had live rock and i let it in the sun for a few weeks hit it with a water hose and put into storage. What do i need to do to it before i put it back into a tank to start a cycle?

2. I had live sand sifted it and dried it and put in storage. What do i need to do to it before i put it back into a tank to start a cycle?

3. Also at the end of my tanks life i had gotten bristle worms from a guy that didn't tell me he had them when i bought a rock from him. How if at all can i be sure i got rid of them when i dried my sand and rock?

smiley28 · Feb 9, 2015

Just curious but why do you dislike bristle worms?

Fraser · Feb 9, 2015

i understand their benefit, and with that said i also find them unappealing to have in my tank. that is the only reason really

Rob.D · Feb 9, 2015

Fraser said:
Hey everyone just joined the site. I had my 55 gal set up over 2 years ago and had it running for one year i shut it down due to moving from NC to MI and now im rdy to get back into it again. I just need some guidance on how i set it back up.

1. I had live rock and i let it in the sun for a few weeks hit it with a water hose and put into storage. What do i need to do to it before i put it back into a tank to start a cycle?

2. I had live sand sifted it and dried it and put in storage. What do i need to do to it before i put it back into a tank to start a cycle?

3. Also at the end of my tanks life i had gotten bristle worms from a guy that didn't tell me he had them when i bought a rock from him. How if at all can i be sure i got rid of them when i dried my sand and rock?

Just place the rock in the tank, there should be plenty of dead organisms to start a cycle, if you must use your old sand, I would rinse it really well but I recommend starting with new sand. If the rock has been completely dried out, there is no possible way that any life is left in the rocks, but bristle worms are not a bad thing to have, they are beneficial to a healthy reef system.

Fraser · Feb 9, 2015

Rob thanks for the info i really would like to use my old sand can i mix it with new live sand? Also any advice on a RO/DI system? I have well water and the closest LFS is to far to make it a viable option for water.