How long of a cycle might I expect??

Robyn, i would definitely rinse the sand in tank water first and rinse it throughly, the idea of using someone else's sand sounds good in theory but you could be adding a TON of nutrients to your tank as well. If it were me and i were starting over i would buy new sand and just use a few scoops of some live sand to seed it. JMO of course, it just reminds me of when i tore down my 24 gallon the sand was so foul, i was surprised that there was anything alive in my tank at all, let alone growing and thriving.

I would be interested in other ppls opinions on this but i would say at the minimum give it a good rinsing in tank water until it rinses clean.

 

I dunno, like i said that was just my opinion, it could be totally fine, but why risk it? At least with new sand you know you are starting clean and pest free.

 

I wouldn't think twice about adding sand from another tank if you have the luxury of time to let it cycle. It's also ironic that you're worried about polychaete worms when they and cockroaches will be the only things to survive a worldwide calamity!

I would personally use no sand, but if you want sand I would wash it in the manner you had planned, put it in the tank, aquascape, and let it all sit and cycle before adding the sensitive livestock.

One thing you didn't mention was how deep a sand bed it was and how deep a sand bed it is going to be.

 

Good choice on going new.

I, too, like the look of sand but it's really hard to go back after seeing just how much gunk accumulates that would otherwise end up mixed up in the sandbed.

 

Good Idea on the new sand. I bought my 90 as a complete set up and had to take out all the sand for transport. It took a good 8 weeks to cycle. If I was to do that again I think it would cost me as much in water to rinse the old sand as to buy new sand. I do like the idea of a cup or two of live sand to seed it, then again all the corals you stock the new tank with will also seed the sand bed with bacteria. I'd used the sand from your 90. At least then you know what was in it to start.
BTW it is a type of scorpion fish

 

New sand is the way to go. I was going to try reusing sand once, and after months of rinsing I still couldn't get the foul odor out of it. We spend thousands and thousands of dollars on our tanks, so what's another couple hundred bucks to have no worries.

 

Good choice Robyn. I have seen several tank fight nitrates long term when they used old sand.

 

Nutrients and phosphate can be bound in sand so all the rinsing cant release it....only time can, and it will be in your tank as that would be happening.

Good call on the new sand!

eins

 

Posted By einsteins on 07/28/2008 10:01 AM
Nutrients and phosphate can be bound in sand so all the rinsing cant release it....only time can, and it will be in your tank as that would be happening.
Good call on the new sand!
eins
I'd have to agree with this.  So the best thing to do with an old sand bed is to rinse it a few times.  After all the salt is gone mix it into the soil and grow some plants.