I lost power for four days due to hurricane Irma. Everything in my tank has died. I am restarting and not in a hurry to restore my tank. However, my sand has turned black. My question is will I be able to get my current cleaned enough to use it with water changes, carbon and skimming?
Tank crash
- Thread starter pratt
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nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
In regards to the sand, I would ditch it too, no telling what sorts of bacterial residues and nutrient buildup has been absorbed into it.
VelocityTech
Well-Known Member
How much sand are we talking? How big is tank? And how much 'bio load' died?
The tank is a 125 sand bed about 1-2in. The amount of death is a lot. I don't really know how to explain the bio load. I was dosing 95mil a day of b-ionic to maintain levels. I don't know if that will help.
Personally, I would ditch the sand and even bleach the rocks. Replacement dry sand is cheap. Clean everything else out using vinegar and do a complete reboot. This is what I had to do following Katrina.
VelocityTech
Well-Known Member
If costs aren't an issue. Absolutely ditch the sand. And just like @Humblefish said, absolutely clean everything with vinegar!(tank and equipment).
I would scrub then toss the rock in clean saltwater with a lid(complete darkness), and a powerhead. Let them cure while your getting ready and setting up the reboot.
**
If you must wash the sand. Lookup sand cleaning methods. I have personally cleaned and re used sand from a tank crash. Cleaned it well. And it thrived.
I would scrub then toss the rock in clean saltwater with a lid(complete darkness), and a powerhead. Let them cure while your getting ready and setting up the reboot.
**
If you must wash the sand. Lookup sand cleaning methods. I have personally cleaned and re used sand from a tank crash. Cleaned it well. And it thrived.
nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
If you intend on keeping the sand and you've ever had any bristleworms or urchins, don't stir it up with your hands! Learned that lesson the hard way... Use a paint mixing stick or something similar.
*K&AreeFers*
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Sorry to hear you lost your tank. We lost power for over 3 days and the house got to 93 degrees but using ice in bags to cool the tank it made it. The tank looks real ugly with a lot of red algie but all fish made it and most corals as well. I feel for you. I was thinking the same was going to happen to my tank. Good luck getting your new one up and running.
