Tank redo and gravel question!

Am planning on draining my tank and starting from basically square 1, planning to add live rock. I have a few hermit crabs and snails. I plan on moving them to my Q tank for the time being.
Question: I only have regular crushed coral as gravel. The tank has been running about 3 months. Should I keep the gravel in conditions to save whatever bacteria is growing there or let it dry out and start from scratch?

 

You can wash the crushed coral, but I wouldn't use it the way it is now. You can have ammonia and nitrates built up in the coral and once you stir that up, you will release it into the tank. You can just put it in a bucket and run water in it while mixing the coral until the water runs clear, then add it back tot the tank.

 

Thanks for the advice! I appreciate the help!

 

I would throw it out and add aragonite sand. The CC requires a lot of maintenance to keep it from becoming a nitrate generator.

 

I wouldn't really worry about amonia and nitrites, you will have to recycle your tank and they are going to spike anyway.

If you like what you have I would just keep it. Why are you starting over after only 3 months? (just curious. I couldn't wait for tank to finish cycling, I couldn't imagine starting over.)

 

Hey Sadie,
When I set up the tank I never added live rock so I have lost 3 fish now. I want to add live rock. I will not be tearing apart my filter so I don't know that I will be starting from scratch essentially but to arrange the rock I will need to remove the water so I can remover the gravel and create a stable base. I won't throw anything out but I am thinking of alos buying some live sand to put on top of my current crushed coral.

 

2in10 thanks for the advice I wish I had known that when I started. I always wondered why my nitrates on a good day were only 20. I assumed that it was due to the country tap water I was using. Helped with the breakout of GHA. What a mess

 

Tap has a large part in that too. I suggest getting a RODI filtration unit for your tap.

 

I see. That's too bad about your fish. that is frustrating.

Just breaking down the tank and doing all that work at once might cause a spike in your levels. I was nervous about that. I just had to break down my tank because of GHA, I had a slight rise, but nothing a few water changes and fresh Purigen couldn't fix.

good luck and I hope it goes better this time. Don't give up.

 

fresh Purigen? I am not aware of that term. What is that?