180g restart

[spartan94]

Hi Everyone.
I need some advise. I have a 180 gallon tank that I wish to start up. We just moved to Florida a couple of months ago and the tank has been sitting empty for around two years. It was my roommates and they were less then successful with it. They ended up filling it with copper and killing off most of the live rock. Fish died soon after, they were always battling disease and water imbalance. I don't want to make the same mistakes. I'm going for a tank with fish like tangs, triggers etc. Not to much reef. Here are some questions.
1. Live sand and Live rock, can i just drive over to one of the nearby beaches ( Daytona area) and collect my own? it is legal I'm just not sure if this is the same stuff sold at the store. if so what is the best way to prep it.
2. is there a good product to remove scratches from acrylic.
3. How much filtration?
Thanks

 

[krunk]

1. = its not legal too take live rock or sand from the beach.
2. = remover, not sure, never used arcylic
3 = wet/dry filter for 200 gallons. if you have the money a euro-reef skimmer. If you have the money 250 lbs live rock, and a 4-6"DSB. if you went that way you wouldnt need the wet/dry.
you said "Not to much reef" if they used copped, dont even try too have any corals.

 

[elan]

yes.. i agree, i have read many posts which state that a tank or rock used with copper actually "soaks" the copper in and then leaches it out later on.... you could just put in the rock and get the tank running... put in a couple of snails and crabs after it cycles and see how they do... if the invert live, you may be good to go... but, IMO, i wouldnt risk it.... leave it a FO if you have used copper.

 

[mxracer572501]

tangs and triggers dont do that well but depending on how much bigger the tang is maybe
the triggers will eat your reef plants i have no plats in my tank but my trigger still bits at the rock