Hi y’all picked up a bowfront 72 today with a 20gallon sump now question is what do Ouse to clean all the algae and crud from the glass and sump. Already ordered the pump kit cleaning kit from brs. Also can I reuse the rock and sand rock is questionable whether it was used in a system with copper, and sand is clean just used. One of the rock is covered in dried algae and what looks like coralline, the purple stuff I’ll post pics later.
Picked up 72 gallon bowfront
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nautical_nathaniel
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When in doubt, throw it out! If copper might have been used on the rocks and sand then I would just get new substrate and rock if you ever want to keep any inverts or corals in the system. Better safe than sorry.
And you can use a bit of citric acid or vinegar diluted in water and an old plastic gift card (ideally one you don't have any money on) to scrape any old corraline buildup off of the glass. An even better tool is a plastic scraper or plastic putty knife. Just be sure to be careful around any silicone joints and rinse the tank out periodically. You could also use a razor blade scraper, just be aware you can scratch the glass with one of those if you're not careful, which is why I recommend the plastic tools.
When in doubt, throw it out! If copper might have been used on the rocks and sand then I would just get new substrate and rock if you ever want to keep any inverts or corals in the system. Better safe than sorry.
And you can use a bit of citric acid or vinegar diluted in water and an old plastic gift card (ideally one you don't have any money on) to scrape any old corraline buildup off of the glass. An even better tool is a plastic scraper or plastic putty knife. Just be sure to be careful around any silicone joints and rinse the tank out periodically. You could also use a razor blade scraper, just be aware you can scratch the glass with one of those if you're not careful, which is why I recommend the plastic tools.
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Ditch and replace the rock if it was in contact with copper (assuming you'd like to keep any invertebrates 
). Same with the sand.
To clean the system, fill it with tap water, add a strong pour of white vinegar or citric acid, turn your circ pump on and let the whole thing "cook" for several hours or so, and most of the mineral crud will just dissolve.
If you're sure that the rock has not been treated with copper, and you're wanting to clean them for reuse, bleaching them is a great way to go. The bleach will oxidize anything organic, making the rocks look clean and new again. The bleach can easily be neutralized by allowing the rock to thoroughly dry ideally in the sun. Sunlight degrades bleach, and it's completely neutralized once dry. You can also hit it with a massive dose of a dechlorinator like Seachem Prime. This BRS article has more details:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...KJZyWJepFjijXRegkJzPDeteoKVp66cD4t7EPFQb-pr3R
Good luck!
). Same with the sand.To clean the system, fill it with tap water, add a strong pour of white vinegar or citric acid, turn your circ pump on and let the whole thing "cook" for several hours or so, and most of the mineral crud will just dissolve.
If you're sure that the rock has not been treated with copper, and you're wanting to clean them for reuse, bleaching them is a great way to go. The bleach will oxidize anything organic, making the rocks look clean and new again. The bleach can easily be neutralized by allowing the rock to thoroughly dry ideally in the sun. Sunlight degrades bleach, and it's completely neutralized once dry. You can also hit it with a massive dose of a dechlorinator like Seachem Prime. This BRS article has more details:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...KJZyWJepFjijXRegkJzPDeteoKVp66cD4t7EPFQb-pr3R
Good luck!
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