HELP needed with "New" "Old" tank

gkat66

gkat66

New Member

Yesterday my sons and I picked up a tank I bought from a gentleman who had it advertised on EBAY. It is the whole setup,
210 gal tank, stand,canopy, pumps, filters,lights,e.c.t.............................
He also gave me a cleaner shrimp,an urchin, some hermits,and tube worm/fan? I didn't know these would be included. Sooooo
we ran to a local store and picked up a 10 gal tank / pump and filter and tubs to get some of his tank water home. I just couldn't
let these things die !!! I thought the system was going to be empty and torn down when we arrived, but he said he was waiting for the
remaining critter to die ,but they didn't
He had not been taking care of the tank because he was getting rid of it !
I don't plan on getting it up and running for a couple months, and then no fish for a month or so. My target date is April.
Here is the big problem,he had told me he was quitting fish because he no longer had time, his wife let it slip ,all their fish
died from "ICK" . I know this is't the end of the world, but how do I get everything cleaned and sterilized before I start over.
I figure I'm gonna have to get a new QT tank,I was going to use the 10 gal but now that has the critters and some LR from his
system. Any advice and or suggetions will be appreciated, Thank you in advance !!
Kat
 
gradymo

gradymo

Member
I would set the tank up with the filter (empty,throw away any filter media), power heads, etc...fill it with water and a couple gallons of white vinegar and let it everything run for a couple of days. Empty it and rinse everything really well. Any stubborn place, I'd use a new toothbrush with water and vinegar and scrub. Just be sure to rinse everything really well. And you should probably replace the bulbs in the light fixture since you don't know how old they are.
 
gradymo

gradymo

Member
And you can still use the 10g that you have for a QT. You can use the live rock kick start your cycle and add the inverts when it's complete. Clean out any rubble in the 10g, replace you filter media (put your new media in the DT to gather some beneficial bacteria), and you have your QT.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
The 10g quarantine is fine for now. Make sure you use his old water and live rock for it - and buy a hang on back filter - like a cheap aquaclear filter for some water flow. Also, buy some cheap API test kits while you have the money. Test the quarantine tank every day for ammonia.
Go ahead and pick up some Instant Ocean sea salt and put an RO/DI unit on order from Air Water Ice. I prefer the Typhoon III reefkeeper- the unit can also be used for cooking water, drinking water, baby water, and so on and so forth besides the aquarium top off water. You need good clean top off water and water to mix salt in to have a long term successful tank. Go ahead and purchase some clean RO water from your water store when you get the chance so that you have some water to top off the quarantine with and for some water changes.
I highly recommend starting to read ever article in this thread: https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388776/guides-for-new-hobbyists It will help you get some more knowledge about cycling, maintenance and basic overall care of a saltwater aquarium. You will need to know at least the basics before you begin your tank.
Don't let any of the live rock that he had dry out. Keep it all in tubs, and place one powerhead in each tub. Powerheads are basically water movers - the life of the ocean is the wave, and it is the same thing for your tank. Get a couple of maxijet 1200 powerheads - they are cheap and you can also use them to mix your water with. A mag drive 3 pump would also be great for mixing new saltwater with, as well as creating a way to pump it up to your display tank during a water change. More on that later.
you will be overwhelmed the first couple of months with information that people are throwing at you. Take all advice with a grain of salt and mostly follow your gut. Though, if you don't have any experience in Biology at all and don't understand the basics of Ecology, then start to research in further detail.
Decide if you want a sump or not. I highly recommend a sump because it really does make life a lot easier. You can probably get a glass technician out to your house to drill the tank for an overflow if you want. Or, you can get an Eshopps overflow rated for your size tank. (You have a nice sized tank!!!) I would recommend no less than a 55g sump to fit under your tank, and preferably a 75g. You can research sumps and baffles in more detail if you want to go that route. Sumps are great because they add extra water volume and hide equipment, and the equipment that you use to maintain such a larger aquarium is typically geared to working with sumps. (IE Internal protein skimmers, cone skimmers, etc.)
Powerheads are a must - and there is a lot more information that you need to read on water flow patterns ... it's not just plug and play like many people think it is.
Do a fishless cycle.
Find a trusted live fish store in your area. Only buy quality from them - and definitely take their advice with a grain of salt, (pun may be intended.) unless you see their tanks and they look world class...
Find a forum... YAY! YOU came to us first! Welcome to the forums and I hope you enjoy your stay.
I'll come back and check on you later today. I hope I didn't scare you off. lol
 
gkat66

gkat66

New Member
Thank you Gradymo,and you too SnakeBlitz, I have been reading threads on this site everyday for months :) .I have been following your build and other threads Snake. I also bought books by Scott Michael , Sprung, Delbeek,Fenner and others .I also joined 3 other forums.
I plan on drilling the tank myself, and having a large sump / fuge. We have to reinforce our floor first,and run new wiring, our home is 120 years old,so this is gonna take some time. I didn't plan on having any livestock for many months, but this little shrimp has so much personality I can't bare to give him to my LFS. The gentleman also gave me frozen food ,a whole bucket of salt and all the test kits he had. I really can't complain about the critters I got ,because he gave me soooo many things he didn't include in his original listing.
Is there a chance the Ick will still be in the liverock or will the cycle be broken with no fish in the system for months ?
 
gradymo

gradymo

Member
An Ich cyst can lay dormant for as long as 8 weeks, once it hatches, it will die after 3 days without a host. Ich cannot survive on an invert, it needs a fish host. So you should be just fine.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GKAT66 http:///t/393420/help-needed-with-new-old-tank#post_3499808
Thank you Gradymo,and you too SnakeBlitz, I have been reading threads on this site everyday for months :) .I have been following your build and other threads Snake. I also bought books by Scott Michael , Sprung, Delbeek,Fenner and others .I also joined 3 other forums.
I plan on drilling the tank myself, and having a large sump / fuge. We have to reinforce our floor first,and run new wiring, our home is 120 years old,so this is gonna take some time. I didn't plan on having any livestock for many months, but this little shrimp has so much personality I can't bare to give him to my LFS. The gentleman also gave me frozen food ,a whole bucket of salt and all the test kits he had. I really can't complain about the critters I got ,because he gave me soooo many things he didn't include in his original listing.
Is there a chance the Ick will still be in the liverock or will the cycle be broken with no fish in the system for months ?
Wow, thanks, G.
Your doing a great job researching so far. Sprung and Delbeek really know their stuff. I really enjoyed reading their three volume set of The Reef Aquarium.
IF you are drilling your tank yourself, consider using a BeanAnimal overflow design. (It's this dude (beananimal) that thought of a neat way to make a tank run absolutely silent and have emergency drain just in case something happens.) I would have used it myself for my build, however I was in too much of a rush to get it all set up since I had live rock sitting around in a bucket and was anxious to get it going. lol! I'm not as patient in this hobby as some.
Ich is a marine parasite. Ick is a freshwater parasite. Just FYI. :D Ich's life cycle can last up to 72 days without fish in the system. Since your tanks previous owner probably was running fishless for quite a while, and you don't plan on having any fish for a couple more months then the only thing you have to worry about is quarantining off your new incoming fish. With such a large tank, you are probably going to look at some tangs. I highly recommend setting up a simple 55g quarantine tank and buying relatively small tangs so that they can be healthy and grow up ich free in your larger tank. Your quarantine tank is there so that you can run medications and do treatments on sick fish before they enter your main display tank. Trust me, it's heck trying to catch a single small fish in a big tank! Especially fast swimmers like tangs.
I am so excited for you!! Please post pictures as soon as you can, and if you would once you are in the process of drilling and setting things up - start a build thread. I would love to have you join our little community and share your new exotic aquatic experiences with us!
 
gkat66

gkat66

New Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/393420/help-needed-with-new-old-tank#post_3499812
Wow, thanks, G.
Your doing a great job researching so far. Sprung and Delbeek really know their stuff. I really enjoyed reading their three volume set of The Reef Aquarium.
IF you are drilling your tank yourself, consider using a BeanAnimal overflow design. (It's this dude (beananimal) that thought of a neat way to make a tank run absolutely silent and have emergency drain just in case something happens.) I would have used it myself for my build, however I was in too much of a rush to get it all set up since I had live rock sitting around in a bucket and was anxious to get it going. lol! I'm not as patient in this hobby as some.
Ich is a marine parasite. Ick is a freshwater parasite. Just FYI. :D Ich's life cycle can last up to 72 days without fish in the system. Since your tanks previous owner probably was running fishless for quite a while, and you don't plan on having any fish for a couple more months then the only thing you have to worry about is quarantining off your new incoming fish. With such a large tank, you are probably going to look at some tangs. I highly recommend setting up a simple 55g quarantine tank and buying relatively small tangs so that they can be healthy and grow up ich free in your larger tank. Your quarantine tank is there so that you can run medications and do treatments on sick fish before they enter your main display tank. Trust me, it's heck trying to catch a single small fish in a big tank! Especially fast swimmers like tangs.
I am so excited for you!! Please post pictures as soon as you can, and if you would once you are in the process of drilling and setting things up - start a build thread. I would love to have you join our little community and share your new exotic aquatic experiences with us!
Haha it took me 2 weeks to read all three of The Reef Aquarium books , the print is so small it gave me a headache if I read too long.
I read BeanAnimal's entire thread about his overflow ( wow did that take awhile ) That is why I'm gonna drill the tank.
Thanks for the correction on Ich and Ick, I didn't know !
I have already decided I'm going to have a Pred/Agressive tank.Lions , Tusk ,Rabbitfish. I don't think Tangs are on my list, but who knows. I have lots of time to change my mind .My sons are all out of the house now, so I have time to do this right,and save up the money.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GKAT66 http:///t/393420/help-needed-with-new-old-tank#post_3499822
Haha it took me 2 weeks to read all three of The Reef Aquarium books , the print is so small it gave me a headache if I read too long.
I read BeanAnimal's entire thread about his overflow ( wow did that take awhile ) That is why I'm gonna drill the tank.
Thanks for the correction on Ich and Ick, I didn't know !
I have already decided I'm going to have a Pred/Agressive tank.Lions , Tusk ,Rabbitfish. I don't think Tangs are on my list, but who knows. I have lots of time to change my mind .My sons are all out of the house now, so I have time to do this right,and save up the money.
Nice. We need more Pred members on the forums.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sounds like a fun project.....You will love the overflow......That design will handle mad flow.....I'd drilling the tank for 1 1/4" or better yet 1 1/2" bulkheads though......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Save yourself some cash.... A dremel or rotozip and some glass bits from Harbor Freight work just as good
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Id stick with the glass holes overflow. Typically, you would want to use a battary powered drill on a very light chuck.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
This guy sounds like a hardcore DIY to me.......I think I did a video a long time ago, before they did all this jazziness on the website, so stuff is gone, but it's super simple.....I actually prefer using my rotozip than anything else to drill.....I've used drill press and the diamond hole saw in the past, but really tedious IMO........
With the rotozip or dremel you only need a bulkhead your using to trace out your template on where you want your holes drilled....You mark the holes, and I will post a pic of the bits you can get cheap from Harbor Freight......I've drilled 150's on end in my driveway at 3:00am......
Here is the set I use to get my hole started.......
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-1-4-quarter-inch-shank-diamond-point-grinding-set-31502.html
Here is the set I've used to start enlarging the bulkhead holes.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-diamond-coated-rotary-drill-bits-32375.html
Once you get the hole so big you can swap over to these......
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-large-diamond-grinding-wheel-set-32397.html
Key is keep the surface wet and cool......Let the bit do the work, don't force it.........
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Or you could purchase a $15 glass hole saw for your bulkhead and take 20 minutes drillin it with a battary drill driver and presto your done. Quick with no guess work. Lol.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Found some old pics of when I first drilled the 120g with that method. Ended up doing all 5 holes on that tank with the one set of bits. The bits are pretty much toast now but they only cost $12. I think the hole saw bits from g.holes are not that much more though. I hear that people generally get about 2-4 holes out of them as well. So cost wise the two methods to drill one tank are about the same. The thing I liked about this method was that I had no fear of cracking the tank. You just don't want to get in a rush or else things will get too hot and you might see some chipping around the edges. The one thing I disliked about this method was the time it took to drill all those holes. Probably well over 2 hours worth of strait drilling/grinding. I was being conservative with the bits. You could go faster but you're going to burn the bits out faster as well.




 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/393420/help-needed-with-new-old-tank#post_3500385
Good pics.......
Some oldies but I have you to thank for the tip. I'm happy with the way it turned out and that I didn't break the tank. I did have to take numerous breaks though cause my hand cramps up on me sometimes. I think this is probably a really good method for drilling smaller tanks with much thinner glass. The next bigger tank that I do though I think I'll just drill it.
 
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