Been a Long time, but I have a question!

[nflnutswif]

Hey kids, Havent been here in a while but now our 125 is being cycled and I have a sand issue. Bought maybe 300lbs of live sand from a previous onwer who was breaking down his tank. The sand was directly from his tank and put into several large rubbermaid type containers w/ trashbag liners and sealed. We transported these to our home and left them in the garage for maybe two months. after noticing acouple buckets getting dry I added R/O water to keep wet.
Problem,The sand has now been placed into the new tank, It STANK sooooooooo bad. Nasty kind of stink, bad stink! After plenty of stirring and filtering two weeks later it is now just starting to clear up. Are we gonna have an issue with this sand? I really don't want to continue cycling w/ 100 lbs of live rock being added this weekend? what are some comments. . . I'll hang up now and listen!
Nice to be back by the way, I see some familiar names still.

 

[jdragunas]

well i'm probably not one of those familiar names, but nice to meet you, i'm Jenn. Now it sounds to me like you just put in "uncured" live sand into your tank.
I really don't want to continue cycling w/ 100 lbs of live rock being added this weekend?
Not quite sure what you meant by this. Are you saying that you don't want to add the LR if your tank is cycling now, or did you mean that you're going to add LR to help cycle the tank??? little confused :notsure:
Well, have your levels spiked? They should, after adding the stinky sand... lol

The stinkiness means that the "live" stuff on it died, maybe not all of it, but enough of it to cause a big stink...lol. So adding this sand to your tank is like adding uncured LR to your tank. it should cycle.
IMO, you could add the LR, as most people cycle their tanks with their LR in it. Hope this helps, and hope it's not confusing, sometimes i have a hard time putting words to my thoughts...
Jenn

 

[nflnutswif]

Hi Jen, I'm confused so im not surprised anyone else wouldn't be too! I was AFRAID to add the live rock just yet because the sand was so unexpectedly nasty, Thinking that I would be doing more harm than good to the cycle. Our water levels are just wacky the ammonia was very high probably because of all the dead matter from the stagnant sand. So I guess the question or concern rather is. . .Would I be harming this beautiful live rock we bought by putting it into wacko water and sand? Or wait to get the water leveled out and cycled THEN add the good rock?

 

[jdragunas]

ok i get it now. Is your LR fully cured, and are there any hichikers on it? If there's snails, dusters, and other living animals on it, i'd wait till the tank is done cycling, then add it. If it's uncured LR (has a smell similar to the sand), then throw it in to help the cycle along.
Remember, you only want your ammonia to kick up to around 0.25 or 0.5 for the cycle, anything over and above that is kind of counterproductive.
Jenn

 

[nflnutswif]

Yup, I think that sounds right, I'll wait for awhile longer. It's just I've never had a problem w/ sand like this before YIKES it was BAD! Had to leave the windows and doors open to BREATHE. I was even wondering if this mess could be toxic and toss it all out and start over. But with the 3 power heads skimmer and fluval pounding through for the last 2 weeks it's clearing and smells fine. We'll post some pictures when it gets prettier!
Thanks

 

[hot883]

Yes of course all that Live Sand died 3 hours after you sealed it up in the tubs. There are litterally Billions of dead creatures in the sand now, so it's dead sand. Perfect in my opinion to cycle with.
Now the Live rock; where is it now? If you have it not in water it's dead too. if it is still in a functioning salt water tank then you are ok. I would add it now, regardless.

 

[jdragunas]

ohhh, you already have the LR??? i thought it was on order... i just reread your first post, i don't know where i got that from... sorry. if you have the LR, do as hot said, and add it now, otherwise, it'll end up like your sand too.
Jenn