Starting up my 55 gal after long break - Aquarium Advice

nwbradshaw · 03-16-2006, 10:41 PM

I am wanting to start up my 55 gal tank after not having it running for 7 or 8 years. It was hastily taken down during a move, and not cleaned as well as it probably should have been.

I am wondering how to clean it back up? The tank itself has a band of hard crusty algea remains and a build up of salt deposit around the top 6 or so inches.

The Lifereef wet/dry filter has the same along the water line.

How do I go about cleaning this? Can I clean the bio balls in the wet/dry filter or take them out and replace them?

Thanks for the help. I am sure that this is the first of many questions.

jaiden · 03-16-2006, 11:19 PM

vinegar is safe to use. try that first.

nwbradshaw · 03-16-2006, 11:58 PM

straight or diluted?
How much rinsing after scrubbing with vinegar is needed?

ColdFish · 03-17-2006, 02:35 AM

50/50 vinegar and water is what I usually use for cleaning up. Not much rinsing required at all afterwards. Have never tried to clean up a huge build-up though, and not sure if straight vinegar would be ok or not. Seems like it shouldn't be a problem as long as you rinse completely afterwards.

Lonewolfblue · 03-17-2006, 03:02 AM

You can do 50/50 or straight. I just used straight on a paper towel, took it all off, including the mineral deposits. Had to scrub a little, but was fairly easy. Took an hour to do my 55G.

tecwzrd · 03-17-2006, 10:25 AM

Instead of the bio-balls you might want to consider getting 60-90 lbs of live rock to handle your bio-filtration via the The "Berlin Method". If not then you may want to replace the bio-balls since they are relatively cheap and probably not worth the time involved to clean them if heavily encrusted.

Quite a lot has changed in this hobby over the last 8 years and I’d recommend reading all the saltwater articles on this site and the articles on liveaquaria.com to get up to speed.

Welcome back to the addiction

nwbradshaw · 03-17-2006, 02:44 PM

I will have to do some reading as I am not familiar with the "Berlin Method". When I bought the tank and filter set up, it was top of the line, but like anything else it's nothing compared to new technology.

I guess I have some reading to do. Anyone want to put it here in a nut shell? Is it completely unacceptable to consider using the same Lifereef filter? Theres alot of money tied up there.

Thanks - Nick

tecwzrd · 03-17-2006, 03:49 PM

The lifereef filters are top notch and I wasn’t suggesting ditching the whole thing, just the bio-balls since lr would be more beneficial in keeping your no3 low if you plan on making this tank a reef. You could convert it over to a fuge also.

Still there are a lot of reefers who still use bio-balls with little no3 problems so it’s still not out of the question with proper skimming/maintenance done.

nwbradshaw · 03-17-2006, 11:38 PM

Can you add the LR to the area where the bio ball usually sit? Or do you change that portion completely?

I am wanting to do a fish only with Live Rock at this point. Would that change the recommendation of LR over bio ball use?

I can definately see that alot has changed since I last did this. Thanks everyone for your input.

revhtree · 03-18-2006, 01:27 AM

Hi and welcome to AA!!

First off glad you are getting back into SW!

I will add a little here. Clean the tank with some good vinegar that has a high acid count. Then fill the tank up with fresh water and let it sit a few weeks. Examine the seems very well. Since the tank is pretty old you might want to consider replacing the silicon or buying a new tank altogether. I know you dont want to hear that, but it is something to consider.

Also you can just convert your wet/dry into a sump. You can add LR rubble to the area where bio balls were used. They are out dated as they could become a nitrate factory.

What are your plans for this tank? FO, FOWLR, Reef, etc....

WELCOME!

03-16-2006, 10:41 PM	#1
nwbradshaw Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7	Starting up my 55 gal after long break I am wanting to start up my 55 gal tank after not having it running for 7 or 8 years. It was hastily taken down during a move, and not cleaned as well as it probably should have been. I am wondering how to clean it back up? The tank itself has a band of hard crusty algea remains and a build up of salt deposit around the top 6 or so inches. The Lifereef wet/dry filter has the same along the water line. How do I go about cleaning this? Can I clean the bio balls in the wet/dry filter or take them out and replace them? Thanks for the help. I am sure that this is the first of many questions.

03-16-2006, 11:19 PM	#2
jaiden Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sturbridge, MA Posts: 586	vinegar is safe to use. try that first. __________________ 54g all-glass bowfront corner AquaC Remora with MJ1200 three MJ900 [acronym:71b198ebe2="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:71b198ebe2]'s Phosban reactor, 65lb [acronym:71b198ebe2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:71b198ebe2] (mostly hirocks), 60lb aragonite ~3" sand bed Lonely O Clown

03-17-2006, 03:02 AM	#5
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,833 Images: 7	You can do 50/50 or straight. I just used straight on a paper towel, took it all off, including the mineral deposits. Had to scrub a little, but was fairly easy. Took an hour to do my 55G. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

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03-16-2006, 11:58 PM	#3
nwbradshaw Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7	straight or diluted? How much rinsing after scrubbing with vinegar is needed?

03-17-2006, 02:35 AM	#4
ColdFish Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 173	50/50 vinegar and water is what I usually use for cleaning up. Not much rinsing required at all afterwards. Have never tried to clean up a huge build-up though, and not sure if straight vinegar would be ok or not. Seems like it shouldn't be a problem as long as you rinse completely afterwards.

03-17-2006, 10:25 AM	#6
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	Instead of the bio-balls you might want to consider getting 60-90 lbs of live rock to handle your bio-filtration via the The "Berlin Method". If not then you may want to replace the bio-balls since they are relatively cheap and probably not worth the time involved to clean them if heavily encrusted. Quite a lot has changed in this hobby over the last 8 years and I’d recommend reading all the saltwater articles on this site and the articles on liveaquaria.com to get up to speed. Welcome back to the addiction

03-17-2006, 02:44 PM	#7
nwbradshaw Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7	I will have to do some reading as I am not familiar with the "Berlin Method". When I bought the tank and filter set up, it was top of the line, but like anything else it's nothing compared to new technology. I guess I have some reading to do. Anyone want to put it here in a nut shell? Is it completely unacceptable to consider using the same Lifereef filter? Theres alot of money tied up there. Thanks - Nick

03-17-2006, 03:49 PM	#8
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	The lifereef filters are top notch and I wasn’t suggesting ditching the whole thing, just the bio-balls since lr would be more beneficial in keeping your no3 low if you plan on making this tank a reef. You could convert it over to a fuge also. Still there are a lot of reefers who still use bio-balls with little no3 problems so it’s still not out of the question with proper skimming/maintenance done.

03-17-2006, 11:38 PM	#9
nwbradshaw Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7	Can you add the LR to the area where the bio ball usually sit? Or do you change that portion completely? I am wanting to do a fish only with Live Rock at this point. Would that change the recommendation of LR over bio ball use? I can definately see that alot has changed since I last did this. Thanks everyone for your input.

03-18-2006, 01:27 AM	#10
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,033 Images: 1	Hi and welcome to AA!! First off glad you are getting back into SW! I will add a little here. Clean the tank with some good vinegar that has a high acid count. Then fill the tank up with fresh water and let it sit a few weeks. Examine the seems very well. Since the tank is pretty old you might want to consider replacing the silicon or buying a new tank altogether. I know you dont want to hear that, but it is something to consider. Also you can just convert your wet/dry into a sump. You can add LR rubble to the area where bio balls were used. They are out dated as they could become a nitrate factory. What are your plans for this tank? FO, FOWLR, Reef, etc.... WELCOME!