Please help

[spamn]

So I went and did something before reading up enough..

I had CC as my substrate and I have read all the arguements about it. I only had it for about a month, as I just set up my tank.

I already saw it turning brown and trapping things and I don't even have any "critters" of any type yet, just LR (I know there are some hitch hiking critters on there.)

Anyway, I got a great deal on LR as I found someone that was tearing down their 3 year old tank. I went today and bought about 40 pounds to add to the 25 pounds I already have.

Since I have all the rock I need, I decided if I'm going to get rid of that CC I'd better do it now. (Only reason I got CC in the first place was trying to be TOO thrifty).

I found a great deal on some Caribsea Oolite Argonite and picked up a 30 pound bag for only $19.99.

This is where it gets fun. I came home and drained about 15 gallons from my tank into a storage tub. I took all my LR out and put it in the tub, along with a few new pieces that had some nice growth on them. I scooped out all of the CC and the water was obviously pretty murky at this point. I decided to put in my 3 large base pieces of LR and then put my sand in around them to get a nice 1" sandbed. It said not to rinse so I didn't. Now my tank is completely brown with the sand. I tried to add it gently but we all know it's impossible.

So.. I cannot see to add more rock. I don't really want to crush, kill, or scratch anything. Do I keep all the LR in the container with a heater? Do I throw it all in the tank, wait for it to settle and then arrange it? I have the filter off to let the sand settle but the protein skimmer is on.

I know this was pretty dumb but it happens and I would just like the best advice as to what to do with all my LR right now and what to have it with. Filter, skimmer, heater, light, etc.

Thank you so much in advance and I apologize for the long and idiotic post.
-Sam

 

[spamn]

PS. the tank is a Uniquarium so I have no "sump". It has a built in overflow in the back that hold the protein skimmer and heater and does wet/dry filtration and then pumps back into the main tank.

 

[severum mama]

Is it in water? You can keep it in the container with a powerhead and heater, then add it to the tank when your water clears.

 

[spamn]

It is in about 15 gallons which isn't enough to submerge it all. The tank has about 40 gallons in it. I could put it all in the tank which would house it all but I couldn't turn the powerhead on in there for obvious reasons.

Put it in the tank? or add more water to the tub.. not sure how sensitive the LR would be to newly mixed water.. Only one piece of LR has a noticeable coral on it. That is my main concern.

 

[spamn]

I guess I freaked out too soon. Sorry. I would erase the thread if I could.

I took the rest of the water from my overflow and managed to get 90% of my rock submerged in the tub. I added my heater and powerhead.

The tank has the protein skimmer running in the actual tank and that's it. I have two very large pieces that I could not get submerged in the tub. They are still in the tank. The didn't have a lot of growth anyway. They were base pieces. Hopefully the small things on them will be fine in the unheated tank for now.

Only question.. does the tub of LR need any light.. at any time?

Thank you

 

[Catpicklesdog]

It doesn't need light whilst it's in the tub, just a powerhead and a heater

 

[Almondsaz]

SPAMN, don't feel bad. If that is the worse thing that happens then you are doing great. You wouldn't believe some of the mistakes that I have made...like put the top off tube too deep in the sump and partially flooded the front room. Not one of my shining moments, but the tank, house and I survived and I got it cleaned up before my wife got stressed about it. Please post a pic of the tank, don't have any experience with a unaquarium, but have read a bit about them.

 

[spamn]

Well, the good news is that I freaked out. Oh well. I let the rock sit in the heated tub all night with a powerhead. I woke up this morning and the tank was somewhat more clean and the protein skimmer just full of sludge.

I decided that since I could somewhat see, I should put all the rock in, get the powerhead, heater, and pump going to get the water cleared up. So I did so.

The results are awesome. The tank is clearing so quickly now with everything turned on and the rock in.

Here are some current pictures.. also, the sand is looking great. I have the 1" I was hoping for and it's so much more pleasant looking than CC and hopefully alot easier to maintain.

Don't mind the aiptasia. I got a TON of it when I got this LR yesterday. It will be gone soon, hopefully. There are a ton of other items I got and I'm not too sure what they are. One is a coral and maybe some polyps. Others look similar to aiptasia but I'm not sure if they are. They are very feathery and a maroon color.

Also, I know the rock is haphazardly placed. It's not final, whatsoever. It's just in there so it doesn't die off. Hopefully by this evening it will be clear and I can get an aquascape going.

Thanks everyone and happy new year! :bday:

PS. Once the water clears just a tad more (hour maybe), i'll try to get a good shot of the coral I got as a hitch hiker\. It's visible now but not enough to get a really good shot for ID purposes. I have no idea what it is. I have seen pictures of similar before but I couldn't locate a name for it. It is nothing out of the ordinary at all. Exciting to me though. I have never had a coral. Years of FW tanks and finally I get some excitement after not even a month of SW.

 

[Ace25]

Your brave.. I wouldn't let a piece of rock touch the sides on a uniquarium. It is acrylic right? If so it scratches like butter.

 

[spamn]

Your brave.. I wouldn't let a piece of rock touch the sides on a uniquarium. It is acrylic right? If so it scratches like butter.

Yeah, it's acrylic. I've seen how easily it scratches. I want the full effect for one so I'm willing to take the risk.. but also I just moved 3k miles to here and the movers put a crack in the back of my tank (doesn't effect anything. it's in the partition between the main tank and overflow) but it was brand new before being move and put down has a "high value/risk item" so I am getting a brand new tank for free because they damaged it with a 3" crack.

Anyway, the water settled and I got a picture of the coral with a turbo snail nestled next to it and then I rearranged the rock into a better aquascape. Once it clears again, hopefully I'm done moving the rock around. Such a long and tedious task.