suggestions restarting a complete used set up

[Zeik1]

So I am not exactly new but been out of reefing for awhile due to job moves. Anyhow, I just bought a complete 125 gallon setup with dual overflows. Pretty much has everything but here is my question. It had only some live rock still in tank but most was dried and boxed. Would you suggest I dry out (cook)all the rock and start with a fresh or try to use the live rock? I have it sitting in a tub with heater and circulation. I question this because I noticed the dried rock had quite a bit of dried up algae on it. Like algae sheets and now I am worried maybe there was a previous problem with algae. I plan on thorougly cleaning all equipment. I threw out the live sand in tank and mud he had in sump. I know that could be nasty. Looking for opinions. Thank you

 

[Geebs19]

You could do a bleach dip on the rocks to kill any organics to start fresh. If there is a ton of stuff on the rocks just blast it off with a hose. I did that to start. I did a little overboard on the bleach but I let it sit in bleach water for a week and then let it sit in fresh water for a week and the completely dried them. Then started them in heated salt water.

 

[Captain Quint]

Hi Zeik1 and welcome to your new home here at R2R.

If it were mine I would power wash the dead rock, soak in bleach/water mix, rinse well, let it dry well. Rinse again and cure it in a container of saltwater with a bit of live rock. It would be good if possible to have water movement and let it cure out for a few months.

Do you plan to clean the tank out really well and water test it? If so it would be great to fill with regular tap water and a few gallons of white distilled vinegar and run if for a few days. You'll be surprised how well that will clean the tank and prove it is watertight.

These steps would be good to do and then go from there.

I wouldn't put the rock in and start using it without it at least being clean.

Please keep us updated. We love pics.

 

[bsn_rn_cen]

Welcome to reef2reef.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

i never trust used rock. do this.....

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-clean-old-rock-before-put-in-the-tank.209008/#post-2392229

 

[Retro Reefer]

Welcome to R2R

 

[moz71]

Hi all. This is zeik1 long story but needed to create different account but all fine now. I will take your advise and keep you posted. I may even docum not on tank build section.

 

[PatW]

I would do the same as many. The rock probably has a bunch of dried organic material on it. You can remove it by scrubbing, blasting with a hose, and soaking in water with a few cups of bleach added. Just do this until it looks clean. Then rinse off the bleach.

You can cycle the rock by putting it into a food safe container with a powerhead. Adding saltwater and some ammonia for cycling from the LFS. Cycle the rock.

You might want to run it this way for awhile to avoid the ugly tank syndrome. When it has been well cycled you can fill the tank with salt water and add your new live rock.

Or you can cycle the rock in the aquarium.

With experience, I would do it the first way. But doing it the first time, I would do it in the tank because I could not wait and heck with ugly tank.

 

[moz71]

Thank you all! so I am reading two different things to use. Bleach and muriatic acid(from links provided). Not sure I would want the acid leaching out over time. I guess there is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[moz71]

One last clarifying question, i will beach the 80lbs of dried rock and cured over a couple months(following Capt Quin suggestion) and going to run tank with vinegar to test everything an clean it. Question is should I also dry out the approx 20lbs of "live" rock also. it looks good and want to use it to seed the dry rock eventually. But question this since this could have been part of a problem tank and just reintroduce a problem. I have been a believer problems more occur from lack of maintenance and proper procedures since really cant prevent introducing everything anyway. i guess looking for some reassurance that it is ok to keep the live rock live and put in eventually with the recured dry rock.

 

[moz71]

Hi Zeik1 and welcome to your new home here at R2R.


Do you plan to clean the tank out really well and water test it? If so it would be great to fill with regular tap water and a few gallons of white distilled vinegar and run if for a few days. You'll be surprised how well that will clean the tank and prove it is watertight.

These steps would be good to do and then go from there.

I wouldn't put the rock in and start using it without it at least being clean.

Please keep us updated. We love pics.

So I did as captain Quint suggested (the Kyiv) and ran two water in with 2 gallons of vinegar for couple days and all good. My question is would it be ok if some water is left in baffles and weir when I fill up with salt water? Total volumes is about 150gallons and only put 2 gallons of vinegar in it and guessing no more than 1/2 gallon of the diluted vinegar water is in there. Or do I need to get all that out some how?