Live Rock and Sand

[Toua]

Okay so i will be moving so i have to plan ahead and take notes as to setup my new tank when i'm settled. I will be wanting to use my live rock and sand and my base rock (which i believe are seeded now). I've been reading around and want to eliminate the chances of getting worms into my new tank. I don't believe I have any in my current tank but i do not want to risk it because tearing down a 75-100 gal tank is just not something i would want to do. What would be the best way to go about doing this? I was thinking that i would fill a bucket full of freshwater and put each peice of live rock in there for about 1-5 mins? all the lifeforms living in the rock should dart out right? after that i'll brush the rock where i can then put it into the tank. I know this will create some die off but the die off should help in cycling the the new tank right? also for the sand, i know it's been seeded because i see alot of pods at night. what i am planning to do is to empty my current tank to about half then just stir it all up, then siphon all the water out and reuse half the sand there with half new sand. all inputs would be great. thanks guys.

[oyam123]

why would you only use 1/2 the old sand?
I reused sand, but gave it a good washing 2-3x.

[Toua]

i thought i would change at least have the sand because some of it is getting a rusty brown color? or is that okay?

[patent]

>>>and want to eliminate the chances of getting worms into my new tank.

Stated that broadly, I'm not sure that is possible. Nor do I know of any reason to want to do so. Most worms aren't a problem. If you have specific issues with worms, have at it, but if its a general fear of worms, step back a bit, they generally just eat the detrius.

>>>What would be the best way to go about doing this? I was thinking that i would fill a bucket full of freshwater and put each peice of live rock in there for about 1-5 mins?

If you really want to kill things I'd probably go quite a ways beyond freshwater dips. I doubt that will do much, kill some things but not eliminate as you mentioned above.

re sand, I personally throw it away when I change tanks. Keep a handful to seed over the top of the sand bed in the new tank if you want.

patent

[hamdogg08]

I've been reading around and want to eliminate the chances of getting worms into my new tank.

What's the big deal about worms?

[David Grigor]

There is no need to erradicate worms ( assuming your talking about bristle worms ). They are just scavengers.

[Toua]

i was reading forums and i guess i just kinda freaked out. fire worms i think they were, suppose to eat corals/clams which i plan to keep later in the hobby. thanks for all the help though. also can i use the tahitian moon sand from drsfostersmith.com? is it just like any regular substrate?

[TimmyG]

as long as you don't have monster sized worms it does not matter! I have worms in my tank but all the big guys had to go! I just put a worm trap in over night and after he was gone I got a wrasse to keep the little ones under control!

and as for sand, it will all work! there is nothing special about it, just that some sands got live bacteria and some doesn't