Inherited Reef Tank 200 g

[Reef GE]

I am inheriting a 200 gal reef tank with sump, equipment, 23 corals and anemones, live rock, shrimp, two fish, etc.

In order to move the tank to my home we transferred the corals and livestock to a friends tank temporarily. Tomorrow we plan to move the tank, filters and set up at our house. My question is whether I should add the live rock right away and approx. how long a bacteria cycle will take to reset Before I can start adding corals again. Since all the filter equipment, sand, and sump materials are already loaded with bacteria, I anticipate that I should have a quick reset. Any thoughts? Any thing I’m not seeing in advance. I have experience with fish but this is my first leap into reef. Since I am inheriting a setup tank, I’m nervous about any learning curve, mistakes. Don’t want to lose an Awesome tank due to ignorance!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I wouldn’t be able to sleep !!!
CONGRATS !!!

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Welcome to R2R!

If you are able to keep the rock in water, you could transfer it right into the tank, you shouldn’t have any cycle. If the rock has been out of the water a while, then you will need to do a complete cycle, 3-4 weeks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Premix seawater in advance and do prepare to fill and set back up
Speaking of bacteria, do add some every 24 hours using such as Bacter xlm or Bacter 7

 

[Reef GE]

We will move the rock in buckets and after mixing new water for the tank transfer immediately. The rock is covered in algae, small anemones, and organisms.

 

[Reef GE]

Should I use RO Water? Or can I simply condition tap water on the initial setup? I have A RO coming but it will take a long time to fill 860 liter tank and sump.

 

[Reef GE]

Help! after moving an established tank to my house, the guy selling it to me dumped a lot of salt on top of the wet live sand and live rock and turned up RODI to fill tank. He did this before I could stop him. When I saw it and protested he told me no worries...the salt will dissolve slowly and no risk to bacteria in live sand or rock. They can survive higher salinity, etc.

I pulled out the live rock immediately and put it in buckets with some of the water we saved from before moving the tank. (Where salt was on rock/sand, it was very hot). 12 hours later, my tank is still filling with RODI, salt still lying on live sand. I’m guessing salinity is very high, but who knows at what salinity? I’m guessing there have been pockets of RODI/salt water in different places.

What did salt or RODI do to live sand? What’s my best and worst case scenario as far as preserving any bacteria or critters in sand or rock? Does it matter? Most of rock is sitting in a bucket.. As I said, I pulled it out immediately, but had to rinse salt off with the incomng RODI to remove salt he had poured.

The sump underneath is established, bioballs, brick, filter media, etc. After tank fills in 12 hrs or so, I plan to check salinity before turning on sump. Even if all the bacteria in sand died, shouldn’t the sump bacteria be enough to restart this tank? Many other questions...

Thoughts?

(yes, I know the water should be mixed before hand. I didn’t do it and saw it when it was too late).

 

[Aggro]

i would say definately do what was mentioned dose bacter7 every day for a week to help with any die off

 

[Reef GE]

Will the rock die off? There are all kinds of floating critters in my water now! Worms, etc

 

[Aggro]

it sounds like your inverts are already starting to die off so its a good possibility some will die off

 

[Aggro]

you could always pull the rock out and put it in sum rodi water and then move to another pale of rodi then a good pale of salt mix

 

[MightyMO]

I would keep that rock in a tub with salt water from the original set up. With a power head in it... And as far as filling the tank. All your mix water should be made out of ro/di water. You don't condition tap water in a reef set up unless you want a potential disaster with parameters..

 

[Flux Capacitor]

I would keep that rock in a tub with salt water from the original set up. With a power head in it...

Also add a heater if possible

 

[Reef GE]

tank water is at 75 degrees. Rock already in buckets with powerhead/aeration to give oxygen. I will keep live rock separate in original tank water until salinity in new tank is up to speed. Sump water is original but I am adding some new water to keep bio balls under water.

Tank is filling with rodi and salt accidentally added. I will cycle with added bacteria once tank fills. Still one more day to go. Then hope the sump bacteria can get fires back up and deal with any die off. 4 rocks were left in the tank (I ran out of buckets), and were exposed to low saline water overnight.

 

[jtl]

Why haven't you checked the salinity? Depending on where it is at will determine your course of action. It may not have been all that high. My guess it that you may at worst have a short cycle but get your test kits lined up.

 

[Reef GE]

Tank is full, live rock added. I noticed to bubble head anenomes on the live rocks when I put them in the tank. . I should have thought to remove them first. Pretty sure both died in the transition / parameter chaos of moving a huge tank. Pieces floating in tank. Will they release toxins of some kind? Or will just ammonia, nitrites, nitrates spike extra in the re-cycling of tank. I was hoping to avoid toxins fatal to fish or corals.