Cycling a 250 tank

[Hooked on Corals]

Hello,

I’m not new to the hobby but it’s been a few years since being in the hobby! I bought a used 250 gallon tank that was fresh water. It came with a sump and two canister filters! I will be using the tank as a reef tank! There is still I little water in the sump and canister filters. It has bio media in it as well! What do I need to do to start cycling it as a reef tank? Do I throw all the media away? I don’t yet have any live rock or sand. What are thoughts on getting sand from the beach?

 

[BlueCollarJoe]

When I started my tank about a month ago, I got a free tank off market place. I did a deep clean of all the parts and tank. I picked up saltwater and RO/DI water, got a pound of live sand and 3 pounds of live rock, 20 pounds of sand all from the LFS. This is for a 30 gallon tank, cost was a little over $100 for everything. May be able to use sand from the beach but the sand that was sold to me was from the Bahamas. Kinda something I can brag about.

 

[ED3]

Hello,

I’m not new to the hobby but it’s been a few years since being in the hobby! I bought a used 250 gallon tank that was fresh water. It came with a sump and two canister filters! I will be using the tank as a reef tank! There is still I little water in the sump and canister filters. It has bio media in it as well! What do I need to do to start cycling it as a reef tank? Do I throw all the media away? I don’t yet have any live rock or sand. What are thoughts on getting sand from the beach?

I have never used sand from the beach and personally wouldn't because you never know what sort of contaminants could be in it.

I would start off cleaning the whole system with vinegar or citric acid, doing a water hold test and then adding sand, live rock and filling it with salt water. Then sit back, let it cycle and enjoy the process

 

[ScottJ]

Hello,

I’m not new to the hobby but it’s been a few years since being in the hobby! I bought a used 250 gallon tank that was fresh water. It came with a sump and two canister filters! I will be using the tank as a reef tank! There is still I little water in the sump and canister filters. It has bio media in it as well! What do I need to do to start cycling it as a reef tank? Do I throw all the media away? I don’t yet have any live rock or sand. What are thoughts on getting sand from the beach?

I would toss any media and start fresh. (You probably won't be using the canister filters, you can put everything in the sump) Clean with citric acid or white vinegar, and don't forget to leak test. Here is a good refresher;
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium | Reef2Reef

I probably would stay away from beach sand unless I knew that beach really, really well.

 

[Hooked on Corals]

I would toss any media and start fresh. (You probably won't be using the canister filters, you can put everything in the sump) Clean with citric acid or white vinegar, and don't forget to leak test. Here is a good refresher;
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium | Reef2Reef

I probably would stay away from beach sand unless I knew that beach really, really well.

Okay thank you so much! I have another question. Since this tank is massive I don’t think I will be able to fill it all at once with the water..funds are a little tight right now! I have all the lights and power heads to circulate the water. If I can’t add all water at once should I just start adding the RODI water with or without the salt? And should I wait to cycle it until all the water is in there?

 

[Hooked on Corals]

I have never used sand from the beach and personally wouldn't because you never know what sort of contaminants could be in it.

I would start off cleaning the whole system with vinegar or citric acid, doing a water hold test and then adding sand, live rock and filling it with salt water. Then sit back, let it cycle and enjoy the process

Thank you. Can I add the water first the and just let circulate until I get dry rock and sand without actually cycling the tank?

 

[ED3]

Thank you. Can I add the water first the and just let circulate until I get dry rock and sand without actually cycling the tank?

There’s no reason you couldn’t do that. Even if it were to start cycling, you’re just adding dry rock that will need to populate with nitrifying bacteria anyways so the cycle will just keep going.

 

[Hooked on Corals]

There’s no reason you couldn’t do that. Even if it were to start cycling, you’re just adding dry rock that will need to populate with nitrifying bacteria anyways so the cycle will just keep going.

Okay now here’s another question. One of the overflow tubes I can’t get off of the tank so how do I clean it with the vinegar. And is it diluted?

 

[Uncle99]

Okay now here’s another question. One of the overflow tubes I can’t get off of the tank so how do I clean it with the vinegar. And is it diluted?

Pass a round brush through it should be fine. You can use vinegar provided you can remove it all.

You can use it straight up.

You don’t need to use anything other than tank water and a stiff brush.

In the future, when cleaning these from time to time (every 6 months for me) I just pass a bottle brush (same size as overflow) up and down while twisting

 

[BlueCollarJoe]

I would toss any media and start fresh. (You probably won't be using the canister filters, you can put everything in the sump) Clean with citric acid or white vinegar, and don't forget to leak test. Here is a good refresher;
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium | Reef2Reef

I probably would stay away from beach sand unless I knew that beach really, really well.

Okay thank you so much! I have another question. Since this tank is massive I don’t think I will be able to fill it all at once with the water..funds are a little tight right now! I have all the lights and power heads to circulate the water. If I can’t add all water at once should I just start adding the RODI water with or without the salt? And should I wait to cycle it until all the water is in there?

I would add saltwater during every fill if it was within a reasonable time. RO water is used to replace any water that has evaporated, the water will become more salty after evaporation so the RO water dilutes it back out. Refract the water periodically and keep it in the range and you should be good

 

[Asm481]

Trash old media, as others said wash with citric acid or vinegar. Leak test after the scrubbing with plain faucet water. Drain then start filling with rodi as you can. (Buy your own rodi filter). Once full of rodi add salt to proper level then add any live sand or rock you want. If you use true live rock your first cycle should be done. Dry liverock can be added as you fill with rodi.