Would somone be willing....

[Lizzy & Me]

to tell me what I should be watching out for in a used set up? I am looking at a lot and some have great gear and lots of rock, but the tank is full of green hair alge and these polyps. I am trying to avoid buting a nitrate factory or the like.

A brief overview would be a great help or a link on this topic. I did search but came up empty handed. :roll:

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Len]

Hi Jack,

Personally, I'd purchased used dry goods but buy new livestock, live rock, and sand. While you might be able to find a problem-free tank in your local area for sale, it's unlikely; people sell their tanks usually because they're fed up with dealing with problems (problems which they probably created ). If you start with new rock and control the progress from day one, you may likely do better. There's nothing worse then inheriting someone else's problem and spending lots of time and money battling it for months or years.

 

[mr_X]

i once purchased some green hair covered live rock from a LFS that was going out of business. it was in a "well established" or should i say "well neglected" display tank. i ended up with red slime algae, a whole colony of nasty predator worms (Oenone fulgida), and some rock i would never have put in my tank if i saw it clean.
for a 4 dollar a pound savings, i got a fair amount of headache.

 

[shavo]

beggers can't be choosers X, you know what you need?

the used set up should be fine, the algea can be wiped out with some tangs and lawnmower blennies , look online for clean up crews, alot of websites sell kits of creatures that take on algea and they call them "clean up crews" I bought the same rock that X did and it was covered in long green hair algea and some red algea, not red hair algea but red something. everything on my rock is basically gone after it went into my tank. I did an initial cleaning of the rock but if I just put it in as is it would be just as clean. I wouldn't worry about the algea and stuff like that , it is manageable with the right stuff.
maybe you can take a 5 gallon bucket with some of the water from the tank and a scrub brush and take most of it off to start.

what type of fish are you planning to keep?

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go with Len on this one.

You may be lucky on the algae, you may not. Good husbandry will deal with a lot of problems, not all and some algae is remarkably resilient (and can't be removed just be bringing nitrates down and physical removal - it'll keep coming back).

 

[dnorton1978]

My take on this is if your patient you will find the right deal on an established tank. Take me for example. There is nothing wrong with my tank. I am not selling do to any problems. I am because priorities have completely changed. I know if mine is good then others are out there too. Just my 2 cents

 

[mr_X]

i know dnorton's tank is a good purchase, that wasn't what i was saying(hope no one thought that). and shavo---i would rather have paid 5 times as much for quality rock than deal with that red slime and predator worms. hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go with Len on this one.

Me three, no need to buy trouble.

 

[shavo]

two schools of thought here, yes i completely agree with len and lawdog, it's probably is better to take things on from day one with new stuff. but i bought 80 pounds of live rock for 2 dollars a pound. nice pieces and i couldn't pass it up for the expense part of it. to me it was worth saving the money plus any bumps in the road help you to better yourself if you see it again later. I guess the predator worm part of it sucked but other than that it has been hassel free. Whos to say your not going to get predator worms if you buy new live rock anyhow. I have not noticed anymore worms lately I tomahawked one in half and caught one in the act of eating a snail. since then i haven't noticed anymore. the algea was destroyed by my tangs and sally lightfoots and emeralds in under 1 month and the red stuff is all but gone too. I did take out the pieces after the green hair algea was gone and rescrubbed the red stuff off though. the rock looks great and things are good.

 

[danmhippo]

You have to keep your fingers crossed when you are dealing with used LR. If you got the time, I'd suggest throw the unknown source of LR into a trash can with an octopus. Keep the lid on and block out the light for a few weeks. Hopefully the hungry octopus will clean up the nasty worms and shrimps up for you while the algae gradually die out in the trashcan.

Make sure you change the water a few times to keep the NO3 down. You don't want to kill the octopus in his poo water. If you see octopus keep climbing out of the water, it's probably bugs free on the rocks by then.

 

[shavo]

are you sirius? How much are octopus at your lfs? I hear they need perfect water conditions to survive. might as well buy new live rock at that point. just seems like alot to go through for some rock. IMF

whatever you decide good luck and ask pleny of questions here

 

[danmhippo]

Nah, they just don't like high NO2 and NO3. But pristine water is just myths. That's why using them, the water need to be monitored and change as necessary.

They are not that expensive at So. Cal where I used to live. They are very inexpensive at where I am right now. Just make sure you are not getting the blue ring octopus......

 

[Lizzy & Me]

Wow..thanks everyone. I want to apologize for my long winded post first, but I wanted to let you know I have heeded your advice and steered clear of the neglected setup although it was tempting.

But as luck would have it I found not one but two systems in the couse of a morning. I picked up a nice 55 about 6 months old with the Orbit lighting, 30 gal sump, little giant pump, large protien skimmer and a bunch of dry (dead?) live rock and even this man made rock designed for the back of the tank....$175 woooohoooo!

Then on the way home with my daughter and I's pride-and-joy, the gentleman with the 300 gallon came back and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It stand about 7' tall all up and running for the last 4 years with 300 lbs or more of live rock, and 20 nice (some large) fish. It has quite a bit of gear but a little low on watts of light but I bet I can fix that.

So I am sure I will have a couple more (hundred) of questions. I am reading and looking forward to getting the 300 here and If anyone wants to come help me move it give me a call!!!

I am stoked (cautiously).

Thanks again,
Jack

 

[mr_X]

a 300? awesome. good luck with it!

 

[Lizzy & Me]

Thanks, Mr. X. The owener is willing to guide me through this as it has been 10 years since I have done salt! Everyone sys go as big as you can afford right? This was a smokin deal! (I hope, lol).

 

[Lizzy & Me]

Can anyone tell me what type of man-made rock this is or anything about it?

 

[shavo]

congrats!! you bought the 55 and the 300?

55 gallon fuge!!!!

 

[Lizzy & Me]

Yes, I had given up on the 300 and went to go get a nice 55 with all the gear and on the way home the 300 gallon guy called because he has to move pretty quick....and made me a really sweet deal.

Have you ever seen that rock before?

 

[trido]

Can anyone tell me what type of man-made rock this is or anything about it?

That is called lace rock. It is usually voclanic rock out of montana. It is very dense and has no PH buffering capabilities. Also it is so brittle and dense that I doubt that any boring creatures will be able to dwell in it so IMO it will never be true LR. Im sure It will house beneficial bacteria, dont get me wrong. Some worry about it leaching heavy metals into the water of a reef tank. I have seen it used in small amounts with no ill effects.

 

[trido]

Can anyone tell me what type of man-made rock this is or anything about it?

That is called lace rock. It is usually voclanic rock out of montana. It is very dense and has no PH buffering capabilities. Also it is so brittle and dense that I doubt that any boring creatures will be able to dwell in it so IMO it will never be true LR. Im sure It will house beneficial bacteria, dont get me wrong. Some worry about it leaching heavy metals into the water of a reef tank. I have seen it used in small amounts with no ill effects.