Stagnant Saltwater and live sand safe?

[wnlandfo]

Hi MR!

I'm moving in two weeks and I need to pack my tank up. I need to store all of my belongings in storage for a week. I already have a home for my corals and fish for the week but I don't know how I'm going to store my salt water and sand. I have a 20g tank. Would it be okay for me to just store my salt water in buckets along with my sand? Will all of the microorganisms that are essential stay alive for a week in the buckets? Any suggestions? Experiences? Thanks!!!

 

[KathyC]

Hi MR!

I'm moving in two weeks and I need to pack my tank up. I need to store all of my belongings in storage for a week. I already have a home for my corals and fish for the week but I don't know how I'm going to store my salt water and sand. I have a 20g tank. Would it be okay for me to just store my salt water in buckets along with my sand? Will all of the microorganisms that are essential stay alive for a week in the buckets? Any suggestions? Experiences? Thanks!!!

No, the critters in your sand will die without circulation, air and the proper temperature. No sense in keeping the water either as whatever bacteria is in it will also die off, nor is there enough in the water to make much of a difference.

Is there anyplace you can move the tank to and keep it running?

If not, I suggest when you break it down, you wash it all out, rinse off your sand and let it dry out and then re-cycle the tank with new SW and acclimate your fish to that water.

You didn't mention live rock ...assuming you have L/R I would do everything possible to keep that alive (temp, circulation, oxygenated and totally submerged) and that will help tremendously in causing only a minor cycle when you set the tank back up.
Also get a cup of live sand from a friendly reefers tank to re-seed your sandbed when you set the tank back up.

 

[wnlandfo]

Thanks, KathyC. I was going to store my live rock along with my corals and fish in my boyfriends tank during that week as well. So if I lose all of that sand and water, I'd have to wait another 3-4 months until I can add my corals and fish again? Could I seed my tank with some water from his fish tank and have the cycling process go quicker? What a headache.

 

[KathyC]

Thanks, KathyC. I was going to store my live rock along with my corals and fish in my boyfriends tank during that week as well. So if I lose all of that sand and water, I'd have to wait another 3-4 months until I can add my corals and fish again?

If you are storing your live rock in a running tank (excellent btw!!)..and use new SW...and have rinsed your sand (before you store it for the week), you should have a minimal cycle at worst.

There is so little bacteria in the water that there is no reason to keep the old water - most definitely if it will be sitting stagnant for the week.

To minimize the cycle even more, don't add all of your sand (no idea how deep a sand-bed you have) immediately when you set the tank back up. Put maybe a half inch in with a little sand from your BF's tank and then add more over the next month or so. Use a funnel and shut off your power-head/s so it goes directly to the bottom and doesn't make a sand storm.

I'd set the tank right back up - including adding the fish and corals - after you move. Your live rock being in great condition is the biggest plus you have and will keep the minimal cycle in check. Obviously you want to keep a watchful eye on your ammonia level and if it rises, you want to address it immediately.

Just one question...we don't know what your fish bio-load is like..what fish are going back into this tank?

 

[wnlandfo]

Thanks for the advice. I only have one fish. An ocellaris clownfish. With live rock available and with the techniques you gave me, hopefully I'll get my tank up and running in a month again.

 

[KathyC]

With just the one fish - no reason you can't put it right back up
Just be sure to rinse that sand when you take it down.

 

[Fishluva513]

I got a tank with no circulation at all and theres alot of life in there. Im noticing baby snails all my sand stars are doin fine


Matty'sCornerAqauriums

 

[wnlandfo]

Nice!! Woo hoo! Thanks guys