Picking up a used display tank, how to prep for use?

[MrWellington]

Hey all - I'm picking up a used 150G saltwater tank that includes 100lbs of live rock, sand, skimmer, etc. The tank was in use for 10 yrs, and was told (grain of salt) it ran stable.

How would you go about cleaning/cycling? I'd like to retain the beneficial bacteria but not parasites or other nasties obviously. Is that possible? Can I copper power and UV the entire tank without killing good bacteria?

 

[blaxsun]

Before you do any of that I'd perform a leak test...

 

[MrWellington]

Before you do any of that I'd perform a leak test...

Done - seen it full and running before purchasing.

 

[blaxsun]

Done - seen it full and running before purchasing.

I'd look at one of those large black rubbermaid troughs you can set everything up in while you clean the tank. If it's not that far to travel, you can probably transport a lot of the water and rocks in various tubs.

I'd either clean or replace the sand as once you disturb it you may not want 10 years of crap everywhere (what happens in the sand bed stays in the sand bed...).

Most of your beneficial bacteria is going to be in the rock and not the sand or water column, so as long as you have flow, heating and saltwater you should be able to keep all the live rock viable while you get the new tank cleaned.

You didn't mention if there were any corals, fish or inverts - so the above is just based on the rock.

 

[MrWellington]

I'd look at one of those large black rubbermaid troughs you can set everything up in while you clean the tank. If it's not that far to travel, you can probably transport a lot of the water and rocks in various tubs.

I'd either clean or replace the sand as once you disturb it you may not want 10 years of crap everywhere (what happens in the sand bed stays in the sand bed...).

Most of your beneficial bacteria is going to be in the rock and not the sand or water column, so as long as you have flow, heating and saltwater you should be able to keep all the live rock viable while you get the new tank cleaned.

You didn't mention if there were any corals, fish or inverts - so the above is just based on the rock.

Right - no livestock. It was a FOWLR, and the fish are being donated to another person.

If most of the BB is in the live rock, then it makes sense to just replace the sand with new. Thanks.

 

[blaxsun]

Right - no livestock. It was a FOWLR, and the fish are being donated to another person.

If most of the BB is in the live rock, then it makes sense to just replace the sand with new. Thanks.

With the added bonus you can change the type now if you didn't care for what it came with. Best of luck!

 

[jpnegrete14]

IMO I would ditch the sand and get new sand. 10yr old sand that you don't really know the husbandry it went through is just asking for trouble.

 

[billyocean]

A leak test isn't a bad idea after it was moved if you can spare it. DON'T add copper to anything. I would.check with seller to make sure copper was never added to tank with rock in it either..otherwise that copper can leech and kill corals.

 

[jpnegrete14]

Hey all - I'm picking up a used 150G saltwater tank that includes 100lbs of live rock, sand, skimmer, etc. The tank was in use for 10 yrs, and was told (grain of salt) it ran stable.

How would you go about cleaning/cycling? I'd like to retain the beneficial bacteria but not parasites or other nasties obviously. Is that possible? Can I copper power and UV the entire tank without killing good bacteria?

I would not use copper to "clean" parasites off the live rock/tank you bought. If your plan is to keep the rock then you pretty much have to make peace with the fact that you're going to get the good and the potentially bad that comes with it.

As far as the glass tank itself. If you have everything out and in a big tub as someone else suggested then you can use a vinegar and water solution to clean the glass. No soap and also make sure the scrubber is aquarium safe. It will often times say on the packaging

 

[jpnegrete14]

Adding a UV to your system has a lot of benefits. The flow rate through the UV aka contact time will target different problems algae vs ich management for example.

I suggest you think of the UV more as a husbandry decision that will be long term and not really as a used tank transferring hands decision kind of deal. If that makes sense

 

[jpnegrete14]

 

[Grassy_Nole]

IMO I would ditch the sand and get new sand. 10yr old sand that you don't really know the husbandry it went through is just asking for trouble.

10000%. Its not worth it considering sand is cheap