New to Forum and need Help

Hello to everyone out there ;D
I have a 125 Gallon Tank..35 sump...euroreef skimmer,sand and 125 Ibs live rock.
The tank has been running for approx. 4 years...I recently rented the house out for a year and a half and the tenant broke the RO DI faucet and started topping it off with reg tap water.

The pumps have been running as well and there are no corals or fish at all.There is no alge and the water is clear.

Now that I am back in my house I want to get it back the way it used to be but I have a few questions first and hoping you guys can help Me :-/

I want to know if I can still use my rock and if so what do I have to do to it ...do I have to remove it from tank ? as well as my sand ??
I am prepared to do a complete water change as I am assuming that needs to be done as well...could use some step by steps from anyone that has been in this situation Please and Thanks

 

Welcome to 3reef.


I would give the tank a test drive and add an easy soft coral and a hardy damsel. If they do fine I see no reason to replace everything until you know you have a problem for sure.

 

I would definitely test all water parameters to see what you are starting with.Did the tenant leave on good terms? No algae and clear water could be a good thing or it could be bad.....bleach or algacide maybe?

 

The tenant left on good terms...the tank looks good just want to get it running again with live things in it...just not sure what to do with the rocks and sand first.

 

So it was run as a fresh water tank?

 

It is still a salt water tank the tenant topped it off with tap water for 18 months as she broke my RO DI tap.....which I had told her to use to top it up...pump still running..I just want to get it back to the way it used to be before with live fish,corals etc in it...I assume a water change is needed just wasnt sure about all the rock and sand...can I just leave in or do I have to take out and rinse rock and change sand ?? Site on u tube say I can leave in the tank...just wondering if anyone on here knows for sure ??

 

Then you are ok, I would do a few large water changes with ro/di and good salt, then do a full water test and see where you are and have at it!

 

I totally agree test all the water parameters.

If the sand and rock is still considered LIVE (with beneficial bacteria), then it should fine. The degree of or population of beneficial bacteria is probably very limited.

You can start ghost feeding the tank for a few weeks and then challenge the tank to see if the biological filter is larger enough to complete the nitrogen cycle.

My only concern is that the sand bed is relatively old and may be extremely dirty. How deep is the sand bed?

So test the water, build up the biological filter again and consider how you want to proceed with the sand bed, depending on how dirty you think it is.

 

Sand bed is 2 to 3 inches and it doesnt appear dirty
Actually last night I seen some tiny snail (without the shell)like creature on my glass and at better looking it appears some things still alive on rock
Thanks for the imput Guys

 

Has anyone ever had tap water added to thier saltwater tank and if so what was the out come? Need some answers please