Sand ?

[Awibrandy]

Hi guys/gals, I had shut down my 20 gallon a while ago, something like 6 months ago.
Here's the thing: I never totaly cleaned it out completely. I took all the corals, fish, lr and about 90% of the water out, but never removed all of the water or sand. No it doesn't stinck, if it did I definitely would have made the time to clean it out.:tongue1:

I plan to set it back up temporarily as an acclimation tank. Here's my ?. Do I wash out the sand with tap water? Or do you think that the sand still has living critters in it, and (A) I should just add new prepared water, or clean it with prepared water?

Your responces will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Quang]

Mima, try stirring it, I bet you the stink is underneath.

I'm sure theres some life left on the sand, but also, a lot of dead crap that'll start off your tank on the wrong foot. Since it's a only 20g, I'd just get new sand.

For an acclimation tank, do you even need sand? Good luck.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks Quang. I'm acclimating wrasse that's the reason for the sand.

 

[Mreefer]

whatever was living in the sand died a while ago, maybe even bacteria. you should rinse it to remove any dead material and organics, debris. if you rinse with tap water, add declorinator after filling up with saltwater just to make sure you neutralize the chlorine. if you use distilled or ro water, then i wouldn't bother with the dechlorinator. it's perfectly good sand.

 

[KathyC]

I'd pitch it A..if you want sand, I have a bag here you can have

 

[grknyer]

Thanks Quang. I'm acclimating wrasse that's the reason for the sand.

Go bare bottom and put a couple of small pieces of pvc pipe in there for the wrasse to hide out in if you say it's only temporary.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks Kat! I like Harry's idea the best.:tongue1:

No fuss no muss. I'll take it all out, and wash out the tank. Steal a couple of pieces of rubble lr, and water out of my fowlr's sump. I'm pretty sure I have some pvc laying around.

 

[Master Shake]

lets put it this way: there has been no flow of airation in the tank which means stagnant water. stagnant water means dirty water and loads of bacteria. also what is the difference between that and live sand packaged and sold. That stuff could be siting there for months before anyone buys it, so honestly i don't even know where i was going with this...

 

[Quang]

:lol: master. packaged sand usually has an expiration date, fwiw.