Using a glass tank that was once for Saltwater???? HELP

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
E

Ed 718

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 17, 2011
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SoCal
So I'm upgrading to a 100 gallon from my 55 gallon freshwater cichlid tank and have a few questions. The tank I will be using was setup for saltwater but not sure if it was just fish or corals. I will be using this tank for my cichlids and concerned about cleaning the tank and what steps do I need to take. The tank also came with some rocks decor nothing special just simple aquarium rocks that can be used for salt or fresh. The rocks she used was another concern I had which was can these be used or am I better off ditching the rocks. The tank itself I did hose down some before I took it and the substrate used was crushed coral. The glass tank is a simple standard tank with no special holes drilled or nothing and it looks brand new. no calcium or salt caked on.

1. How to I clean and prepare this tank for my cichlids?
2. Can the crushed corral be used for substrate or am I better off keeping the gravel in my 55 gallon with the bacteria on it already?
3. The rock decor, can that be used if properly rinsed and if so how do I wash it?
4. Using all my decor gravel and water from my 55 to the new 100 gallon is it safe to transfer everything over without risk to my fish? ( although I do understand I may undergo a mini cylce due to the larger amount of water I will have to add )

Any help would greatly be appreciated.......
 
Hello Ed...welcome to MFK!

I don't see a problem with using any of the things you mentioned. Everything should be rinsed of course, but you don't need to bleach it out, etc. Just rinse and repeat lol. I wouldn't transfer substrate unless it's a personal preference. Just rinse the crushed coral if you go that route.

To help speed up your cycle, you can use your filter from your 100 on the 150. Or at least squeeze the "good stuff" into the water. Using decorations from your 100 isn't going to help much. If you're planning on running both tanks, I would set the 150 up with the items that came with it. Once you have it filled up and operating, use filter media from your 100 to establish BB in the 150.

Post picks when you get it up and going!

Welcome to MFK!
 
I use crushed coral as a substrate (or a mixture with sand) in most of my African tanks. I also will add reef salt to my tanks from time to time. You should have no issues.

If you want to swap substrates without losing the beneficial bacteria, you could always throw the used gravel in a big filter sock (paint strainers from Home Depot are quite large and much cheaper than bags sold for aquarium use) and drop that bag in the tank for a week or so. After that, you can easily pull the bag, clean and store (or pitch) the old gravel.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.
 
If the rock was well colonized with saltwater organisms you might want to soak it separately in fresh water to let everything die off. When I pull pieces of dead rock out of my SW interesting small creatures tend to be inhabiting it. I would take a look at the substrate also tends to have at least some bristle worms living in it.
 
Chaz88;4851230; said:
If the rock was well colonized with saltwater organisms you might want to soak it separately in fresh water to let everything die off. When I pull pieces of dead rock out of my SW interesting small creatures tend to be inhabiting it. I would take a look at the substrate also tends to have at least some bristle worms living in it.
Click to expand...

^^^ Definitely. I was under the impression that it was already all dead/dried out.
 
most of my used tanks are saltwater used for fresh. It's fine just make sure you rinse/scrub the tank out good and that pretty much foes for any filter tubing (like if you were using a sump or canister. As for the rock I would soak it 24 hours in freshwater, scrub it and soak it again.I personally wouldn't use the saltwater substrate, I am sure it has a lot of stuff living in it, and I would hate to have that die off in my tank, but thats me. I would maybe look into a landscape place and get some cheap rock from there and use it. Thast just me presonally.
 
My 90g is an ex-saltwater tank. I just rinsed & scrubbed it beforehand.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
Well the tank and few rocks have been sitting outside for about a few months according to the seller which seemed right as everything was bone dry. The tank has near no buildup looks almost brand spanking new. The rocks have also sat outside for some time but I will def leave them in freshwater for a while.................thanks for the reply guys and the warm welcome.
 
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