Needing some helpful ideas.

[KatSea]

Hello everyone!
So next week I am becoming the owner of a 34 gallon Red Sea Max aqurium. Im getting it off of Craigs list. It comes with live rock and sand, 2 Clownfish, 1 Pink Spotted Goby, a couple of coral, and a handful fo turbo snails. The only problem is that the inside is in a little rough condition. It has a lot of build up on the glass. So I heard that letting vinegar and water run through it will help get it all off (Without anything in it of course).

So here's some pictures

I have yet to get it yet but I will soon. I plan on putting all the stuff into a 30 gallon I have until I get this one cleaned out.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yes, your on the right track.
Wow you have your work cut out for you. The red seas are a beautiful system.
I used strait vinegar on a paint brush full strength an let it soak. if you fill it full and add vinegar it will dilute and reduce the acidity. Paint it on soak and paint again. then vinegar and water soak.

the clowns are going to need some spacial care(stress), are you all set up for that? How long have you been in salt water if you dont mind me asking.

 

[KatSea]

This is actually my first Saltwater aquarium but I've have fresh water for abotu 6 years now and I've been researching saltwater for about 3 years. And the guy is selling his whole system so I have all that stuff for the main tank. I figured it wouldnt take me long to clean the 34 to they would be okay in the 30 for a little bit. Or am I wrong in that?

 

[Lenth296]

Did you plan on putting the stuff into a 30 gallon that you are just adding salt to so you can hold them? If so it will have to go through a cycle and would not be good for fish or coral if that's your plan for holding until you get the main tank clean.

 

[KatSea]

Well Im taking all the water that's also in the tank and I'll put that in the 30 gallon and then move it to the 34 when its done. So pretty much they will have some water and the same filtration from the 34 in the 30. Sorry for not being clear.

 

[Lenth296]

Well then I think you will be ok as long as there is no sand or rock in the holding tank. But I'm not positive on that so I would wait on some more input to make sure everything will be ok.

 

[KatSea]

Alright thank you so much.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well Im taking all the water that's also in the tank and I'll put that in the 30 gallon and then move it to the 34 when its done. So pretty much they will have some water and the same filtration from the 34 in the 30. Sorry for not being clear.

yea you doing a basic tank transfer. google that(sounds like you have been) or deep clean.
you do need the rock in there for biologial filtration. youll need to watch the ammonia in the holding tank most importantly. The rock is cycled. and will continue to do so. the bacteia will take care of the ammonia.

BUT. theres ten tons of funk in that tank so toss the sand youll be happier.
more

 

[KatSea]

So toss the sand and get new live stuff got it. Will that mess to bad with my system? Should I add some extra bacteria?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yer gonna need buckets lots.
Drain the tank, keep the water. get the fish out. put the rock(cleanest) from the top into a bucket with the water. keep draining till you reach the bottom. the funkyest water & the funkyest rock into the same bucket.(youll clean that later.)

Have your new 30 with new live sand waiting, Live sand is cycled is cycled. add the fish add some old tank water add the rinsed cleanest rock. watch ammonia

should be a 2 to 3 day process.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So toss the sand and get new live stuff got it. Will that mess to bad with my system? Should I add some extra bacteria?

its a process. I type slow. Seachem Prime. live sand also has bacteria. same stuff

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

you got your work cut out for you

 

[KatSea]

So in the new 30 gallon have half new and half old water?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yup the clean stuff off the top. and dont worry much about the coral. easy compaired to fish.
the rock and sand all contain massive amounts of bacteria. this is your cycle. people are nuts a tank dont cycle the rock does.
youl want to clean the organics and SPOO gunk off the old rock its gonna be gross and real bad for a tank.
I use hydrogen peroxide 10 p water to one par peroxide in the gross water, itll blow up the organics and gunk likks algae. rinse welll good water salt water etc a fresh ro or distilled is best
it wont stop the cycle.
following me?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

if you just dumped it from one tank to the other youll stir up algae organics ich bactera etc and make a swamp.
thus the term deep clean..and tank transfer as your new search terms.

 

[KatSea]

Top/clean stuff in 30 gallon with fish and good rock.
Icky dirty stuff cleaned with part water and peroxide in gross water and rinse.
Think I got it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The fish and coral should actually be fine assuming they are already in good health in the new tank. just watch them.
dont hurry. once you have the new tank set add new live sand and the now clean rock and let the system run. its gonna take longer than we always think.
if you need to leave rock in buckets, add a powerhead in the bottom, the bacteria need to breathe. weird right?

 

[KatSea]

So Im adding new sand, not the stuff from the 30gallon, into the 34 gallon when I start it up?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Top/clean stuff in 30 gallon with fish and good rock.
Icky dirty stuff cleaned with part water and peroxide in gross water and rinse.
Think I got it.

and these are the basics yea. sounds like you have been doing your home work and now you have a little more info to do a little more research.
in fresh water you keep the bacteria in the mechanical filter or in the under gravel, in salt its in/on the rock and sand. bad thing about sand its whaere the poop is and eww.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So Im adding new sand, not the stuff from the 30gallon, into the 34 gallon when I start it up?

doh spoke to fast. dump the gross stuff. youll have one tank with no sand OR youll have to buy 2 bags of live sand. the fish IMO and do research should go in the tank with the fish. fish die rock dont. my opinion. sand cheap