Wrong start??

[rsach]

I used dry rocks and dry sand(was slightly moist) that the guy gave me when I bought the aquarium. The sand and rocks were sitting in his garage. I added them to the aquarium, it stank. Today I fished adding RO water and salt and started cycling. I still stinks. Reading other post, it seems like the smell is due to dead stuff, but I also read that there can be an algae bloom and phosphate issue. Should I continue cycling, or should I remove everything and restart with new sand?
55g cube with 20g sump

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I used dry rocks and dry sand(was slightly moist) that the guy gave me when I bought the aquarium. The sand and rocks were sitting in his garage. I added them to the aquarium, it stank. Today I fished adding RO water and salt and started cycling. I still stinks. Reading other post, it seems like the smell is due to dead stuff, but I also read that there can be an algae bloom and phosphate issue. Should I continue cycling, or should I remove everything and restart with new sand?
55g cube with 20g sump

I think everything needs a rinse. There is a gold thread on here about cloudy sand and how to rinse it. your sand bed has a lot of die off in It, from sitting outside of water and normal temperature. The rock may need to cycle again and that you can do in your tank but I think you should take your bio media out, rinse, dry, soak in RO/DI and prime ( to remove chlorine from the rinsing) strain then re add to your display and start from there

 

[Aqua Man]

Did you rinse the sand ?
wash the rocks?
If not, I would start over. Or you can let it continue. May have huge algae issues though

 

[rsach]

Did you rinse the sand ?
wash the rocks?
If not, I would start over. Or you can let it continue. May have huge algae issues though

I think everything needs a rinse. There is a gold thread on here about cloudy sand and how to rinse it. your sand bed has a lot of die off in It, from sitting outside of water and normal temperature. The rock may need to cycle again and that you can do in your tank but I think you should take your bio media out, rinse, dry, soak in RO/DI and prime ( to remove chlorine from the rinsing) strain then re add to your display and start from there

Thanks, yes I think it's better to redo it now than regretting it later

 

[rsach]

Did you rinse the sand ?
wash the rocks?
If not, I would start over. Or you can let it continue. May have huge algae issues though

No, I did not wash the rock or the sand I thought that during cycling all the dead stuff will be taken care off if I stir the sand and filter it out. Just curious, would the algae issues be temporary?

 

[NowGlazeIT]

No, I did not wash the rock or the sand I thought that during cycling all the dead stuff will be taken care off if I stir the sand and filter it out. Just curious, would the algae issues be temporary?

They could go for a long time, just varies on how dirty it is.

 

[rsach]

They could go for a long time, just varies on how dirty it is.

I guess the best approach is to empty it out and re-start with new sand. Since I'll be doing that I was debating on adding egg crate below the rocks, is that a good idea? I've seen mixed reviews. Planning on keeping mainly corals and maybe 5-6 fishes later.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I haven’t tried the egg crate route, I cut a lot of my big rocks so they sit flat. Any sand you buy will need a good rinse. Even dry sand carries detritus. Happy reefing. Post some tank shots when it’s back up and running!

 

[rsach]

Thanks! Will definitely post some shots once I set it up again. Planning to buy Caribsea Ocean Direct live sand, so won't have to rinse it.

 

[Aqua Man]

Sounds like the rocks need a good scrub.
Scrub and let sit in a tub/bucket with salt water. This will help purge the nasties out.
Since the rocks were in a tank previously they are probably loaded with organics. The smell is from rocks and sand not being clean.

Also, live sand can be rinsed but you don’t have to.

 

[rsach]

Sounds like the rocks need a good scrub.
Scrub and let sit in a tub/bucket with salt water. This will help purge the nasties out.
Since the rocks were in a tank previously they are probably loaded with organics. The smell is from rocks and sand not being clean.

Also, live sand can be rinsed but you don’t have to.

Thanks I'll clean them out. Should I dump all the water too, or will it be ok to reuse as long as I remove the old sand change the media? Its around 80g including sump.

 

[rsach]

Sounds like the rocks need a good scrub.
Scrub and let sit in a tub/bucket with salt water. This will help purge the nasties out.
Since the rocks were in a tank previously they are probably loaded with organics. The smell is from rocks and sand not being clean.

Also, live sand can be rinsed but you don’t have to.

Is it ok to scrub under tap water and then put them in bucket with saltwater? Do I need to use bleach to clean them ?

 

[Aqua Man]

Yes, you could use a garden hose and use the pressure to help get organics out. In the sink if the smell and mess is not too bad.

White vinegar if you want to make sure everything is dead. It really depends on what was living on those rocks.

After you’re happy with getting rocks clean a final rinse in RO water to remove the tap water. Then you can soak in saltwater for a few days or longer. Also you can add a power head to circulate the water while soaking in the saltwater.