New here! need help with new tank

[Mike1995]

hello! I'm new here.
i just got a used 75g saltwater tank the other day. So far what I have is a refractometer, a sump, a skimmer, return pump.and plumbing, rodi system, a bit of media in sump and sand, and two 800gph wavemakers. That's about it. I also have like 50lbs of dry rock. It was previously live with the previous owner. Is there a way to bring it back to being live again? I was told that using muriatic acid can remove the dead stuff and make it usable. How exactly do i go about this? afterwards can i put it in the tank to cure? I don't plan on any livestock for several months. also, does anyone have any spare lighting or any other saltwater equipment they're looking to part with? I'm in need of some..

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R and saltwater reefing

How about some help here #reefsquad

 

[Mike1995]

thank you! any help is appreciated!

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R, I'm also relatively new to the hobby, so I can't help you a whole lot, but I would think you would want to clean and cure the rock in a 55 gal brute trash can because when the dead material decays it releases ammonia and other unwanted waste. Good Luck with your build.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Welcome to R2R. For safety concerns I would skip the muriatic acid bath and just soak the rocks in a bleach and tap mix (10:1 tap:bleach). Let it soak for 7 days and then let the rocks air dry for another week. Then move on to soaking the rocks for a few days in rodi water with 100% water change every 3 days for another 2 weeks. After that you can start the curing process.

 

[Mike1995]

ah alright thanks!
for the curing process, can i put it in the tank?
also, is there anything else you'd recommend putting in the sump?

 

[Lasse]

Did the previous owner have any problems with the rocks? If not - I would only brush them with a brush - rinse them off with tap water and put them in the tank and let the tank be for a while. If you ad a light - add a clean up crew ASAP you start the light. It is good idea to have the normal light period (around 12 hours) but a low intensity (if possible) in the start. In order to get them living again (read - full of hitchhikers) you can add som fresh living rocks later on. If you with living means full of bacteria - they already is that. Bur this is IMO and how I usually start a my tanks. It differ from the American way - but it has always work for me. See my build thread how I started my latest tank. (I started this tank the same way as I always do)

Sincerely Lasse

 

[reeferfoxx]

ah alright thanks!
for the curing process, can i put it in the tank?
also, is there anything else you'd recommend putting in the sump?

You can cure in the tank. Although filling 30 to 75 gallons of water isn't necessary. If you can fit the rocks in a 20 to 30 brute can, you can save rodi water going that route. Plus it's easier to change water.

 

[Mike1995]

Did the previous owner have any problems with the rocks? If not - I would only brush them with a brush - rinse them off with tap water and put them in the tank and let the tank be for a while. If you ad a light - add a clean up crew ASAP you start the light. It is good idea to have the normal light period (around 12 hours) but a low intensity (if possible) in the start. In order to get them living again (read - full of hitchhikers) you can add som fresh living rocks later on. If you with living means full of bacteria - they already is that. Bur this is IMO and how I usually start a my tanks. It differ from the American way - but it has always work for me. See my build thread how I started my latest tank. (I started this tank the same way as I always do)

Sincerely Lasse

no issues as far a I know. They just dried out. Thank you!

 

[Mike1995]

You can cure in the tank. Although filling 30 to 75 gallons of water isn't necessary. If you can fit the rocks in a 20 to 30 brute can, you can save rodi water going that route. Plus it's easier to change water.

that's true.. I'll try that. Would i just place them in the container, change water and wait? How will i know when the rock is able to be used, or how long?
I used my rodi system for the first time the other day and i didn't realize how slow it produces the filtered water.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Welcome to R2R!

I too highly recommend skipping any acid dip. Not only is it very dangerous, it really ends up giving you less rock, while the acid eats away the calcium carbonate. However, I do recommend doing a bleach wash. This will jump-start the cure by starting the oxidation of any dead stuff in the rock....we're talking small dead stuff, like bacteria....it's in there. Here is a BRS video that talks numbers....but again, skip the acid part.



I would do this bleach and rinse part in something other then your DT.....old salt buckets, Brute trash can, stock tank, etc. Once bleached, rinsed and dried, I go for the rest of the cure in your DT. Note the first week or two, up to the first water change could be very stinky.

 

[cracker]

Hello Mike, Looks like You have enough equipment to get started. So You have the rodi hooked up ,Good . Are You using the old filter cartridges in it? I'd suggest getting new ones. Not too much $$ .
How is the water getting from the tank into the sump.(overflow) ? Are there walls /chambers in the sump or is it wide open ? Can Ya give us a some pic s of these?
Great info video above . Also it's real easy for those starting out to get info overload !
This will be a lot of differing stuff with differing opinions. There will be some info that is the same thtu all of it. Keep this in mind. Good luck & have fun !

 

[Mike1995]

Hello Mike, Looks like You have enough equipment to get started. So You have the rodi hooked up ,Good . Are You using the old filter cartridges in it? I'd suggest getting new ones. Not too much $$ .
How is the water getting from the tank into the sump.(overflow) ? Are there walls /chambers in the sump or is it wide open ? Can Ya give us a some pic s of these?
Great info video above . Also it's real easy for those starting out to get info overload !
This will be a lot of differing stuff with differing opinions. There will be some info that is the same thtu all of it. Keep this in mind. Good luck & have fun !

the rodi unit is actually new. I just bought it last week lol
the water goes thru an overflow, it's that black area in the tank in the picture i attached above. There's one baffle on the right end in the sump, the water goes under and then back over. I'll take a look at the video!

 

[Mike1995]

here's the inside of the sump. Is there anything i might need to add?

 

[cracker]

One thing I see right off is You might want to get rid of steel hose clamp on the return pump. Good on the new rodi filter.

 

[Mike1995]

One thing I see right off is You might want to get rid of steel hose clamp on the return pump. Good on the new rodi filter.

hmm.. I'll try. The screw is pretty well rusted on there.

 

[Lasse]

hmm.. I'll try. The screw is pretty well rusted on there.

That´s the reason why you should get rid of them. Use only plastic hose clamp or hose clamps of titan.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Mike1995]

well my sump started leaking all over the place. At like every seam on the bottom. Won't make that mistake again....
i rigged something up in a big plastic tote and put my skimmer and everything in it.

 

[Diesel]

Plenty of good advice you can all use after you read a lot about this hobby.
One advice stay basic, you will make mistakes, we all did but you only learn from that.

 

[hwntunda]

Welcome to r2r, I do have a Nemo marine led light if interested. Used about a week while doing my led setup, it’s not the best or very customizable but works it’s the 54w 36”-48” version.