Help with Secondhand Setup Please?

[Eienna]

My hubby and I purchased a secondhand SW setup that had been 'let go' for a while. When we were putting the water in we noticed a gray silt was badly clouding the water. Now it has settled on the LR and the sand, as we are unable to run the filtration due to a leaky hose we're replacing tomorrow. We used the LR and sand the guy had had in it. Should I try to remove the silt? Is it beneficial or harmful? Would the sump remove it? It's only filter pads and bioballs at present (yuck) but I'll be changing that ASAP.

He did mention in conversation that he never changed the water, just topped it off.

 

[_Alex_]

I would start doing water changes and sucking the gunk out. That's sounds like ditris and waste from past fish and feelings.

 

[Eienna]

Bet while it's settled like this I could use a baster to get it out. It's a 125 and I don't have a whole lot of salt mix left, nor enough money to buy more this month, so the more water I can avoid removing the better. It's all filled up with new water but I guess the stuff was bound up in the sand bed.

 

[_Alex_]

Filter socks on drains would catch it. Could stir it up and send down the drain to it. Just keep them changed out and clean. With out socks will just settle in your sump. Also bio balls are bad. They traps nitrates and can cause issues later on down the road. Is there any fish in this tank currently?

 

[jimmybling31]

The silt itself could just be that, silt. I wouldn't mess with that at this point. I would remove the bioballs slowly and then just get a filter sock or something in there to collect detritus. If you just got it, I'd let the tank settle for a week or so just to see what it's actually looking like.

 

[Eienna]

Filter socks on drains would catch it. Could stir it up and send down the drain to it. Just keep them changed out and clean. With out socks will just settle in your sump. Also bio balls are bad. They traps nitrates and can cause issues later on down the road. Is there any fish in this tank currently?

No, no fish. I haven't even scaped it yet, though the rockwork is under water.

I just noticed that it's bowing a little bit on both long sides. It's acrylic... The center brace is broken but the guy said it was like that when he bought it and he's been running it for at least a couple years. Should I be worried? It's only a little bow but you can see it if you're looking for it.


EDIT: I researched some and it does look like the TruVu tanks (the brand this is) do bow a little even new. I'm less concerned now.

 

[scrapz]

Imo you should never reuse sand. There is way too way too much crap stuck in there, especially if its been in use for the padt few years. You'll most likelu will need to wait a few weeks for the tank to recycle.

Good thing for u there is no livestock. If i were in your shoes I would run a filter sock n skimmer and stirup the sand continously over the next week and let it skim out until your next water change. During that water change, tie a fork to your intake hose and rake the sand. Should get rid of most of the wadte.

Edit: if u need a piece of acrylic to fix the brace, i have some you could have . Im in san gabriel

 

[Eienna]

Don't have a skimmer yet :/

San Gabriel's a bit too far away, I'm afraid.

 

[jimmybling31]

Does the tank have a sump?

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[Eienna]

Does the tank have a sump?

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Yeah. It's currently set up with filter pads and bioballs but I'm going to change that as soon as I have some cash again (buying the setup took the entirety of my spending money for this month).

I tried siphoning it out but after a quarter of it has been removed I've decided it's just taking too much water out. I'm going to see if I can get it to settle in the sump and take it out from there.

 

[Beariedog]

You should fix that center brace.

 

[Eienna]

OK, the tank has a metal brace on it while we wait for our weld-on to come in the mail
Most of the greenish-gray silt has been removed, but we've got a leaky connection under the stand and had to halt sump use until I replace a hose down there.