re-using sand and base rock...

[Mike171]

I know there are other threads about re-using sand but..... lol
On my 120 I'm getting ready to move it from the garage to the living room and start putting sand and base rock in it. I have dry sand in buckets in the garage as well as a ton of base rock that I want to start scaping with. If i rinse all the sand and then put it in and then put the rock in am I ok to put water in and let it cycle by moving some live rock from my sump on my other tank in with this stuff.... I think the cycle will take longer but are there any other reasons I shouldn't do thie?

 

[swannyson7]

While it's not really recommended, the biggest thing you'll have to worry about is transferring any pests within the sand. If it's dry, then everything should be dead, but it will require some thorough rinsing to ensure you don't have a huge issue with your parameters. Be sure to sift the sand and remove any dead stuff that you see and it would probably be a good idea to let it soak for a week or two in RO/DI with a few water changes to let any NO3, NH3, PO4, etc. leach out. I've reused sand in the past without any huge issues, but if starting with new sand is an option, I'd highly recommend it.

 

[Downbeach]

How much substrate are you talking about? I don't think I'd take a chance on it, but only you know the condition of it. Same with the rock, if it were me I'd clean and etch it before I reused it. Also, it would be better if you placed the rock on the bottom before adding the substrate.

 

[Mike171]

My reason being (and I don't know if this makes a difference) I want to be able to set it all up and arrange it for a while before filling it up with water.
I have probably 3 five gallon buckets full of sand/crushed coral. Can I rinse and sift it then let it dry back out with no problems?
I have already done this with the rosk but it's been sitting for a long time.

 

[Scoobie245]

Just make sure the sand is washed pretty well... other than that... i dont see why it wouldnt work.

 

[ddinox64]

With Scoobie on this. I reuse everything. If I ever drag my 90 in the house. Sand and rock right from the old tank and the sand that's been sitting in a bin for months.

 

[Norcalreefer]

I thought I could rinse it out well enough. I regret that move. I'm still not 100% sure about how I want to make up for this choice in that tank. Looking back at it I just would not do it again. I'm all about saving money and not wasting stuff, but that one is just not enough money saved compared to the pain to deal with it latter if it turns out you did not clean it enough.

 

[Mike171]

What type of issues NorCal?

 

[Norcalreefer]

it's full of detritus still, and just won't ever seem to get clean. I've got major difficulties with algae at a level I should not on that tank. My phos just creep up unless I have a ton of cheto in my sump or use gfo. Maybe I just did not clean the sand enough before, but like I said, it's a pain and the amount of money I saved is just not worth the hassle IMHO.