new start with a used tank

[ronbo404]

Hi

I am just starting out with sw. Today I am being gven a 40g tank with wet wet dry filter, skimmer, etc. It still has water in it (4"), current owner was draining it , should I just add to it ? or drain it and start from scratch. Filter has been shut down for about a week, any live bacteria left?

thanks
ronbo404

 

[fsa]

ronbo, really need a little more info. Was it a salt water tank before? Does it have a substrate? If so, what kind, sand or gravel? I will assume it is/was salt water since you had a skimmer. What kind of sw tank set up are you looking for?

I would add sand, if it doesn't have any, and rock work to start with. Most people advise to not use the bioballs in the wet dry with a reef setup. I have never used a wet dry so don't know a whole lot about them.

How are you going to move it or is that an issue?

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Frank

 

[edikpok]

I would start everything from scratch since you don't really know what the past of this tank is. Perhaps there were some sort of parasites or bacteria's there before....

 

[AW2EOD]

I would keep everything as is.

Add water, to the 4", that you already say is in there. If you aquired a skimmer with the setup, it's most likely a salt tank.

Refill the tank and start testing the water specs. DO NOT disturb the sand bed...any bacteria that's in there is still alive.

You may have another cycle, but I certainly wouldnt start from scratch.