New Used Aquarium Setup

I recently purchased a 55 gallon freshwater setup. System includes
undergravel filter, powerheads, gravel, HOT cannister and Emporer 400
filter.

The system was up and running a few days ago, albeit, pretty unkempt.
There were a few living fish in the tank that I did not notice any
signs of problems.

When I picked up the tank 95% of the gravel had been moved to buckets
and the tank drained. The tank has a lot of white crust on it around
filter and hood and a bit of algae on the glass. The filters seem to
be grown over pretty well and the undergravel filter uptake tubes are
a lovely brown.

What is the best way to set up this aquarium now? Has the bacteria in
the gravel and undergravel filter been destroyed or should I just
lightly rinse gravel and return to the tank? Should I
salt/vinegar/clean/rinse everthing well, change out all the filter
media and start from square one?

I`d personally sterilise the lot, if the tank doesn`t look very well
maintained then likewise for the stock it kept, in which case there is a
good chance there could be nasties present...

"DeePeeJr" wrote in message
om...
I recently purchased a 55 gallon freshwater setup. System includes
undergravel filter, powerheads, gravel, HOT cannister and Emporer 400
filter.

The system was up and running a few days ago, albeit, pretty unkempt.
There were a few living fish in the tank that I did not notice any
signs of problems.

When I picked up the tank 95% of the gravel had been moved to buckets
and the tank drained. The tank has a lot of white crust on it around
filter and hood and a bit of algae on the glass. The filters seem to
be grown over pretty well and the undergravel filter uptake tubes are
a lovely brown.

What is the best way to set up this aquarium now? Has the bacteria in
the gravel and undergravel filter been destroyed or should I just
lightly rinse gravel and return to the tank? Should I
salt/vinegar/clean/rinse everthing well, change out all the filter
media and start from square one?

"DeePeeJr" wrote in message
Should I
salt/vinegar/clean/rinse everthing well, change out all the filter
media and start from square one?



That'd be my advice , also.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/discus.htm