Used tank

[Pudgeshambley]

I just bought a used tank but I am not prepared to set it up right away. Kind of an impulse buy. Anyway, he gave me his live rock also. He just set up his new tank yesterday so don't think it's been out too long. What do I need to do with it? And the rest of it for that matter. It's a red sea max e 170.

 

[sunken3]

if you are asking about the live rock, you could just put it in a bucket of saltwater with a small pump to keep the water moving until you're ready to use it.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

if you are asking about the live rock, you could just put it in a bucket of saltwater with a small pump to keep the water moving until you're ready to use it.

This is my first tank so I don't even have any saltwater or a pump.

 

[Bridgerdean]

I started this way. (With a used tank) I set up my tank with the live rock and let it run for awhile. I eventually changed the scape. You may want to consider watching 52 weeks of reefing by BRS on YouTube.

 

[sunken3]

This is my first tank so I don't even have any saltwater or a pump.

well.. if you want to keep the live rock alive, you will need to get it in saltwater asap... otherwise, you could still use it in the future, but it would need to be soaked and re-cycled before it would be beneficial. I agree that you should read up on saltwater tanks.. they are harder to maintain than freshwater, but I believe they are much more rewarding.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

I started this way. (With a used tank) I set up my tank with the live rock and let it run for awhile. I eventually changed the scape. You may want to consider watching 52 weeks of reefing by BRS on YouTube.

Do I need to do anything to the rock?

Thanks for the you tube suggestion. I will definitely watch it.

 

[Bridgerdean]

Ideally you want to keep the rock “alive” meaning there are critters that live on the rock. That will help you seed the tank. For now, put the tank where you want it. Put the rocks in and fill the tank up with saltwater from your local fish store. Then let it sit for 3 months while you do research on what you want this tank to turn out like. Welcome to the hobby.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

well.. if you want to keep the live rock alive, you will need to get it in saltwater asap... otherwise, you could still use it in the future, but it would need to be soaked and re-cycled before it would be beneficial. I agree that you should read up on saltwater tanks.. they are harder to maintain than freshwater, but I believe they are much more rewarding.

Thanks. I have been reading a lot about it but there is so much information out there. I wasn't expecting the live rock so wasn't prepared but figured I could use it. I wasn't really ready to buy a tank but I got a good deal on it. I was planning on doing a 75 or 90 gallon tank but decided I should test the waters first before going all in.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Ideally you want to keep the rock “alive” meaning there are critters that live on the rock. That will help you seed the tank. For now, put the tank where you want it. Put the rocks in and fill the tank up with saltwater from your local fish store. Then let it sit for 3 months while you do research on what you want this tank to turn out like. Welcome to the hobby.

So if I get water in it tomorrow the critters will be okay? Should I wrap it in a towel or anything overnight?

 

[Karen00]

If you're not ready to setup the tank then your first purchases should be marine salt, refractometer, heater, cheap circulation pump and a bin to keep the rock. Get some saltwater mixed up, fill the bin to above the top of the rock, put in the heater and pump and let the rock sit. If it dries out you're basically starting with dry rock which is fine. It just depends how you want to start your tank. If the rock does dry out you're going to have to cure it to get it going. This can be done in the tank but make sure you don't add any livestock until the cycle completes because you will get an ammonia spike with all the dead stuff on the rocks. Most folks cure it in a bin if the rock has dried out.

 

[Bridgerdean]

If you're not ready to setup the tank then your first purchases should be marine salt, refractometer, heater, cheap circulation pump and a bin to keep the rock. Get some saltwater mixed up, fill the bin to above the top of the rock, put in the heater and pump and let the rock sit. If it dries out you're basically starting with dry rock which is fine. It just depends how you want to start your tank. If the rock does dry out you're going to have to cure it to get it going. This can be done in the tank but make sure you don't add any livestock until the cycle completes because you will get an ammonia spike with all the dead stuff on the rocks. Most folks cure it in a bin if the rock has dried out.

Great advice! Also these things will be helpful (necessary) as you proceed in the hobby! You’ll hear it 1000 times… but go slow.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

If you're not ready to setup the tank then your first purchases should be marine salt, refractometer, heater, cheap circulation pump and a bin to keep the rock. Get some saltwater mixed up, fill the bin to above the top of the rock, put in the heater and pump and let the rock sit. If it dries out you're basically starting with dry rock which is fine. It just depends how you want to start your tank. If the rock does dry out you're going to have to cure it to get it going. This can be done in the tank but make sure you don't add any livestock until the cycle completes because you will get an ammonia spike with all the dead stuff on the rocks. Most folks cure it in a bin if the rock has dried out.

I have everything but the salt and the refractometer. I could start it tomorrow. Do I need to clean everything first or just start it up? I don't know if that is a really stupid question or if there is "good" bacteria already in the tank.

 

[Bridgerdean]

Do you have RODI water?

 

[Pudgeshambley]

Do you have RODI water?

No. Forgot about that part. I am on well water though so was going to get it tested to see if it would work.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just bought a used tank but I am not prepared to set it up right away. Kind of an impulse buy. Anyway, he gave me his live rock also. He just set up his new tank yesterday so don't think it's been out too long. What do I need to do with it? And the rest of it for that matter. It's a red sea max e 170.

If you can get a brute can, add rock to seawater/salt mix or purchase water from store and run a cheap powerhead to circulate water at 77deg with a heater in the brute container and a cheap fluorescent light over the rock until ready to use

 

[Karen00]

I have everything but the salt and the refractometer. I could start it tomorrow. Do I need to clean everything first or just start it up? I don't know if that is a really stupid question or if there is "good" bacteria already in the tank.

It was mentioned whether you have RODI water. That is something you should look at getting as well (a RODI setup). I just use dechlorinated tap water to make my saltwater because where I live the city water is good.

What did you get with the tank? Any substrate or just the dry tank and rocks? If you got substrate you will probably want to rinse that completely. If the substrate/sand is still wet then take it out and rinse with saltwater to preserve whatever might still be living in it. If it's dry then rinse with dechlorinated tap water or RODI. Or buy new substrate which is what a lot of people do that way you're not introducing nasties that the previous owner might have in the substrate. You can just clean the tank with white vinegar and water. Some people use a bleach/water mixture but vinegar also works. If you use bleach probably a 10:1 ratio (10 water 1 bleach) and do a couple rinses and let dry between the rinses. There are some threads on here about how to properly clean with bleach. Vinegar is much safer and you can go stronger with the vinegar because it rinses clean regardless.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

It was mentioned whether you have RODI water. That is something you should look at getting as well (a RODI setup). I just use dechlorinated tap water to make my saltwater because where I live the city water is good.

What did you get with the tank? Any substrate or just the dry tank and rocks? If you got substrate you will probably want to rinse that completely. If the substrate/sand is still wet then take it out and rinse with saltwater to preserve whatever might still be living in it. If it's dry then rinse with dechlorinated tap water or RODI. Or buy new substrate which is what a lot of people do that way you're not introducing nasties that the previous owner might have in the substrate. You can just clean the tank with white vinegar and water. Some people use a bleach/water mixture but vinegar also works. If you use bleach probably a 10:1 ratio (10 water 1 bleach) and do a couple rinses and let dry between the rinses. There are some threads on here about how to properly clean with bleach. Vinegar is much safer and you can go stronger with the vinegar because it rinses clean regardless.

It is an AIO and he gave me a heater. There is still a little bit of water in the bottom and some sand. Can see at least one thing moving around. There is another centipede looking thing but it's not moving. There is a snail still on the rock also. Don't know if I can save it. I am hoping my tap water tests OK. Going to take a sample in to get it tested. Thank you for all the information. I will take all the advice I can get

 

[Karen00]

It is an AIO and he gave me a heater. There is still a little bit of water in the bottom and some sand. Can see at least one thing moving around. There is another centipede looking thing but it's not moving. There is a snail still on the rock also. Don't know if I can save it. I am hoping my tap water tests OK. Going to take a sample in to get it tested. Thank you for all the information. I will take all the advice I can get

The centipede looking thing is probably a bristleworm. If there is just a bit of sand you're probably going to have to buy more (make sure whatever you get is made for reef tanks/saltwater tanks) or go bare bottom. It just depends on the look you want. On average people probably do 2" sand beds if you decide to go with sand and just clean out what is in there. It's probably not worth salvaging. If you're thinking of keeping any sand sifting or fish that sleep in the sand then you will want to research how deep you need to keep it. You might need deeper than 2". Get the snail into the water at the bottom. It won't survive without water although it probably won't survive regardless if that water gets too cold.

 

[sunken3]

It is an AIO and he gave me a heater. There is still a little bit of water in the bottom and some sand. Can see at least one thing moving around. There is another centipede looking thing but it's not moving. There is a snail still on the rock also. Don't know if I can save it. I am hoping my tap water tests OK. Going to take a sample in to get it tested. Thank you for all the information. I will take all the advice I can get

ya.. dont touch the bristleworm with your bare fingers... they are the "porcupine" of the saltwater.

 

[Pudgeshambley]

The centipede looking thing is probably a bristleworm. If there is just a bit of sand you're probably going to have to buy more (make sure whatever you get is made for reef tanks/saltwater tanks) or go bare bottom. It just depends on the look you want. On average people probably do 2" sand beds if you decide to go with sand and just clean out what is in there. It's probably not worth salvaging. If you're thinking of keeping any sand sifting or fish that sleep in the sand then you will want to research how deep you need to keep it. You might need deeper than 2". Get the snail into the water at the bottom. It won't survive without water although it probably won't survive regardless if that water gets too cold.

Should I clean the protein skimmer, carbon filter, and pump with vinegar also?