new dry live rock?

[JVH]

I'm upgrading from a 29g long to a 68 g reef tank. Very excited!!

I'm looking for opinions on fresh new live dry rock to avoid hitch hikers.
However, I want to add my 30lbs of established rock. I was going to dip the rock in coral X and fresh water dip to remove bristle worms and other unwanted critters. Then purchase enough new dry live rock for the tank. Also new substrate. Should I use water change water so I'm cycled? Or should I use fresh water and rock and start completely over? I feel I can avoid all the start up algae's and issues with my rock and water..

I would love to hear from you all.. Also, anyone know of a black sand that IS NOT magnetized?
I would love Hawaiian black with the bits of brown but I heard it will scratch due to the magnetism when using the mag float. Also I have a very strong magnet PH. Definitely don't want to scratch my new investment!

Would love opinions on sand, black sand as well water change water and old rock mixed with new dry live rock..

 

[d2mini]

It can't be dry and live at the same time. It's dry rock.
Nothing wrong with doing some dry and some live. Most people do this to save money.
But if you are going to do live, don't go dipping it and killing off the live stuff. There is nothing wrong with bristle worms, they help break down organic matter.

Old water won't do anything but add old dirty water to your new tank.
I've had the black sand before and personally wouldn't do it again. I hated the magnetic quality and my coral seemed to hate it too. As soon as I switched to regular sand, everything looked much better.

 

[JVH]

Thanks for your comments. I wanted to be clear that the dry rock WAS live and real reef rock and not some synthetic rock or other than reef rock.
Live rock dried out=live (at one time) dry rock! well you get my point!
I hate having so many bristles but I love my rocks.. Well I think I'm just going to go with my rock plus new but you are right about the water..Hopefully my old rock will help with the cycle but I will use new water...
Any thought on Fiji pink sand? (which doesn't really look all that oink if you ask me!) but it still a nice looking sand.)

 

[Waters]

It can't be dry and live at the same time. It's dry rock.
Nothing wrong with doing some dry and some live. Most people do this to save money.
But if you are going to do live, don't go dipping it and killing off the live stuff. There is nothing wrong with bristle worms, they help break down organic matter.

Old water won't do anything but add old dirty water to your new tank.
I've had the black sand before and personally wouldn't do it again. I hated the magnetic quality and my coral seemed to hate it too. As soon as I switched to regular sand, everything looked much better.

I am actually in the process of upgrading also and had a question regarding using old water. Is it safe to use completely new saltwater when you are dealing with a tankful of coral? I know the salinity and temp need to match but what about alk, calcium, etc.? I would like to use new but figured it would be easier on the coral and fish to use as much of the existing water as possible?

 

[d2mini]

I am actually in the process of upgrading also and had a question regarding using old water. Is it safe to use completely new saltwater when you are dealing with a tankful of coral? I know the salinity and temp need to match but what about alk, calcium, etc.? I would like to use new but figured it would be easier on the coral and fish to use as much of the existing water as possible?

It's my opinion that it doesn't really matter either way.
When I responded to the OP, I was speaking more to the cycle. Old water won't do a darn thing to help quicken your cycle.
But as far as your questions goes, I see no reason you can't use a bunch of old water. I don't think I'd want to use more than 50%... just because I think it's a good time to basically do a big water change.
And new saltwater should be fairly close to NSW, which is where I personally keep my parameters. Or look for a salt that is close to where you keep yours. Some have elevated Alk for example.

 

[eric3316]

Of course you can use use 100% newly mixed saltwater, basically when you bring home a coral or fish from the store you are placing them in 100% different salt water then what they were in prior. So if you were going to use all new saltwater then I would acclimate the corals and fish as if you were bringing them home from the fish store.

Now if you used your older water and it made up about 50% of the total volume and the other 50% was pretty close to the same PH and salinity levels I wouldn't worry about the acclimation process as 50% water changes can usually be done without a problem in a tank.

Now for cycling purposes, whether you use the water or not shouldn't really make a difference as most of your bacteria does not live in the water column. You would really just be bringing that water over for the purpose of your current live stock is already adjusted and acclimated to it's parameters.

Now if you have high nitrates or any high levels of other not so pleasurable things then you might think about using new SW. If your current water is fine then you aren't really bringing anything bad over.

For the current live rock, a transfer is a great time to really clean your rocks with either a baster or a powerhead along with a toothbrush. Keep enough water in the old tank to cover the rocks and really go to town on them. You won't have to worry about cleaning the mess it leaves in the tank after!

 

[JVH]

Well look who's here! LOL
Good point about the water. Adding fish and corals would be the same as a water change. I will match temp, alk and salinity.
And I like the idea of cleaning the rocks in the old tank. I should still have plenty of bacteria left in the rock regardless of scrubbing the outside.