Shut down tank, how to preserve Bio-wheels

[contactpsb]

We just moved our 55gal SW inhabitants into a larger tank and now I have the old tank siphoned down to about 6inches of water, and plan to give it a major cleaning before deciding what to move into it. I am wondering, if I decide to do another SW tank, should I get fresh wheels and start over from scratch or try to preserve these (and if I do how long will they keep)? I have them sitting in a tupperware in about 1 inch of tank water right now. The gravel is really nasty, and I plan to either get rid of it or do a major cleaning under the faucet. (It was this way when I got it, I couldn't wait to get my new tank up and running and move those fish so I could give this algae ridden tank an overhaul!)

If I should decide to so FW instead of SW then I assume I'd need to get fresh wheels for sure, right?

 

[steve-s]

If the newly cleaned tank will be SW and contain LR, I wouldn't even bother with the biowheels. They will not be needed. Given a sufficient amount of LR (about 1½ lbs/gal) and a 1-1½" sandbed, your filtration needs will be covered for the most part depending on eventual inhabitants.

I would also suggest you nix the current substrate (CC?) and get some new oolitic aragonite sand instead. Much easier to maintain and will not cause issues later on.

Cheers
Steve