Buying a old tank with sand and rock inside

Shawn4455 · Oct 19, 2020

So I'm buying a redsea 525xl it has sand and rock with it with water currently inside. Im buying and Ill have to break it down, can I keep the sand in buckets until I am ready to use it? I'll be cycling brand new, this shouldnt be a problem right? Using the old sand and just refilling at a later date like months down the road

NeonRabbit221B · Oct 19, 2020

Are you keeping the rock? I would highly suggest rinsing the sand several times with tap and a final rinse with RO. It can be stored in buckets but I would let it dry out a bit.

Phycodurus · Oct 19, 2020

i would re-use the sand after thorough washing/rinsing, but only if i can verify that the prior owner didn't treat the tank with copper.

rinse in small batches until the water runs clear. it'll take a while.

Super Fly · Oct 19, 2020

Phycodurus said:
i would re-use the sand after thorough washing/rinsing, but only if i can verify that the prior owner didn't treat the tank with copper.

rinse in small batches until the water runs clear. it'll take a while.

agree with others, I'd also keep 1-2 cups of old sand (as long as it wasnt treated w copper) to help seed the rinsed/clean sand.

Twoddler · Oct 19, 2020

This is what I did with a 220g tank, I decided to keep the rock, but toss the sand. I cleaned the rock with tooth brush, vinegar and water mix, left to bake in sun.
New fine crushed coral, rock placed in tank, filled tank with rodi and mixed salt . Right from day one when I was cycling had a massive ammonia spike , no problem just took cycling a bit longer, 8 to 12 wks I think, but I cycled naturally without any bottled bacteria. Anyway 4mths later got a great tank

scabbedwings616 · Oct 20, 2020

I would recommend starting fresh new sand. then you know what you are putting in the tank and know it better. If you are going to reuse the sand, I would was the sand in tap water like already suggested, last one in rodi water. Then I would let it just dry out. Spread it out and let whatever life might be holding on die. If you have the time and space that way would work.